The specific tasks we choose to observe are based on user and business goals established prior to testing. This testing usually emphasizes one of two objectives. The first, often called a benchmark or summative evaluation, looks at specific tasks and performance to establish baseline metrics to measure against. The second, called a formative study, is focused on finding and fixing problems.
Usability testing involves observing people using your software, website, mobile app, or device to better understand the user experience. This testing, which involves watching the user as well as asking questions, helps quantify the experience using metrics. It also helps improve the performance of your product.