Interactive tasks
Interactive tasks let participants do something in a prototype or live product while FromUsers records behaviour for analysis. These types appear only in usability tests, under Interactive tasks in the content picker.
Surveys and in-product surveys use the other content categories instead.
When to use interactive tasks
Section titled “When to use interactive tasks”| Goal | Task type to consider |
|---|---|
| Can users complete a realistic job? | Goal-based task |
| Where do people click first? | First click task |
| Is the first impression clear? | Five-second test |
| Which design do people prefer? | Preference test |
| Observe natural exploration | Free exploration |
Place tasks on pages that have a prototype assigned (Figma, ProtoPie, Adobe XD, etc.). Each task page holds only the interactive task — no other questions or content blocks on that page. Use a separate page before the task for instructions (context text), and separate pages after for follow-up questions.
Goal-based task
Section titled “Goal-based task”What it is
A defined mission on a prototype — for example “Add a item to your cart and start checkout.” Success is measured against a target screen or path you configure.
Why choose it
The standard unmoderated usability method: realistic scenarios, completion rates, time on task, and path analysis.
Results you get
- Completion rate and success vs failure
- Time to complete
- Paths and drop-off points
- Summary task widget in Results & Insights Studio
Examples
- “Find the refund policy and open the contact form.”
- “Change your notification settings to weekly digest.”
- “Complete sign-up with a work email.”
Free exploration
Section titled “Free exploration”What it is
Open-ended time on a prototype or flow without a single success criterion. Useful for discovery and qualitative observation.
Why choose it
When you want to see how people wander before you run directed tasks, or when the research question is exploratory (“What do they notice?”).
Results you get
- Session counts and duration-style metrics
- Behaviour suitable for replay and qualitative review alongside recordings
Examples
- “Explore the new dashboard for five minutes.”
- “Browse the app as you would on a typical day.”
First click task
Section titled “First click task”What it is
Participants see a scenario, then indicate where they would click first on the design. Often used for navigation and findability.
Why choose it
Fast signal on information scent and label clarity without a full task completion.
Results you get
- Click positions and heatmap-style views
- Aggregated first-click patterns
Examples
- “Where would you click to change your password?”
- “You need to export your data — where do you go first?”
Five-second test
Section titled “Five-second test”What it is
A design is shown briefly (about five seconds), then hidden. Follow-up questions measure recall and impression (often on the same or next page).
Why choose it
Tests whether key messages and branding land in a glance, before users interact deeply.
Results you get
- Exposure timing tied to the task
- Answers from follow-up choice or open questions you add after the task
Examples
- Show a landing page hero, then ask “What was this product for?”
- Flash a pricing table, then ask which plan seemed cheapest
Preference test
Section titled “Preference test”What it is
Participants compare two or more variants (layouts, visuals, copy) and pick a preference.
Why choose it
Quick A/B style design decisions with clear winner metrics.
Results you get
- Distribution of preference per variant
- Bar-style comparison charts
Examples
- “Which homepage layout do you prefer?”
- “Which icon set feels more trustworthy?”
Combining tasks with other content
Section titled “Combining tasks with other content”A task page is dedicated to the task only:
- One interactive task per page — goal-based, first click, five-second, preference, or free exploration
- No other blocks on that page — you cannot add context text, choice questions, ratings, or any other content to a page that already has an interactive task (and you cannot add a task to a page that already has other content without creating a new page)
Typical flow:
| Step | Where |
|---|---|
| Instructions | Previous page — context text or media, or write instructions in the task title and description |
| Task | Task page — prototype + single interactive task |
| Follow-up | Next page(s) — rating, open text, NPS, etc. |
For multiple tasks, repeat the pattern: instruction page → task page → follow-up page → next task page.
Interactive tasks are not included in paste import with full prototype setup — add them from the picker and link your prototype.