Tree testing is a simplified way to measure how easy it is to find items in a site structure.

In a tree test, we ask participants to look for specific items in a “tree” of headings and subheadings.

Tree testing involves two fundamental elements of IA – organization and labeling.

Tree testing is quick, focused, better than closed card sorting at testing structures, and can be run before we have a website.

Tree testing is best done in the early stages of design – ideally as part of the initial research phase.

It takes 1-2 weeks to run a tree test, depending on the complexity of our site and design process.

Tree testing suits websites that have a fundamentally “tree-like” structure, and where the main navigation reflects this tree.