Context of Use

The combination of users, tasks, equipment (hardware, software, and materials), and the physical and social environments in which a product or service is used. In accessibility, context of use is a critical consideration because the same website may present different barriers depending on the user's abilities, the assistive technology being used, the device and browser, and environmental factors such as lighting or noise levels. Understanding context of use helps designers move beyond checklist compliance to consider the real-world conditions under which people access digital content. The concept is defined in ISO 9241-11 and is integral to usability and accessibility evaluation.