Findability

"Findability precedes usability. In the alphabet and on the web. You can't use what you can't find."
- Peter Morville

Findability and SEO
On Peter Morville's blog, there can be found a lot of useful information regarding the term findability. He defines findability as the quality of being locatable or navigable. Based on this definition it can easily be seen how this term can relate to search engine optimization (SEO). If a web site has a high level of findability then the search engines can locate it much easier making it search engine friendly. A findability/SEO cheat sheet can be found on Aaron Walter's blog. This checklist goes through several items that should be addressed in a web site that will increase the level of findability.

Findability vs. Usability
These two terms differ in the meaning. Just as the quote by Peter Morville mentioned above, "you can't use something you can't find." Usability is defined as a quality attribute which assesses how easy an interface is to use. Usability has five components:

• Learnability
• Efficiency
• Memorability
• Errors
• Satisfaction

Information Architecture and Findability
Information architecture is the structural design of shared information environments. Having a good information architecture allows a web site to have a higher level of findability.

Findability and Accessibility
Accessibility on the web addresses the ability of individuals with restrictions to perceive, understand, navigate and interact with the web. Web accessibility can also benefit individuals without disabilities as well as organizations. Accessibility and findability go hand in hand with one another. If a web site is findable but not accessible then it is no good to the user. The opposite is true as well, if a web site is accessible but can't be found then it is no good either.