What is heuristic evaluation, and how does it play a crucial role in the usability testing process by enabling UX designers and researchers to identify potential usability issues early in the design phase through the application of established usability principles or "heuristics," such as Jakob Nielsen’s 10 usability heuristics for user interface design? How can businesses leverage heuristic evaluation to improve user experience and meet user expectations efficiently?

In heuristic evaluation, experts assess a design using usability guidelines, like Nielsen’s 10 principles, to identify potential issues before users do. It’s like a preemptive strike in UX design. By catching these problems early, businesses can create smoother experiences that meet user expectations. For a deeper dive, I recommend checking out this great resource on heuristic evaluation meaning here.