A　critical　technological　roadblock　to　the　widespread　adoption　of　proton-exchange　membrane　fuel　cells　is　the　development　of　highly　active　and　durable　platinum-based　catalysts　for　accelerating　the　sluggish　oxygen　reduction　reaction,　which　has　largely　relied　on　anecdotal　discoveries　so　far.　While　the　oxygen　binding　energy　EO　has　been　frequently　used　as　a　theoretical　descriptor　for　predicting　the　activity,　there　is　no　known　descriptor　for　predicting　durability.　Here　we　developed　a　binary　experimental　descriptor　that　captures　both　the　strain　and　Pt　transition　metal　coupling　contributions　through　X-ray　absorption　spectroscopy　and　directly　correlated　the　binary　experimental　descriptor　with　the　calculated　EO　of　the　catalyst　surface.　This　leads　to　an　experimentally　validated　Sabatier　plot　to　predict　both　the　catalytic　activity　and　stability　for　a　wide　range　of　Pt-alloy　oxygen　reduction　reaction　catalysts.　Based　on　the　binary　experimental　descriptor,　we　further　designed　an　oxygen　reduction　reaction　catalyst　wherein　high　activity　and　stability　are　simultaneously　achieved.　[Figure　not　available:　see　fulltext.]　©　2022,　The　Author(s),　under　exclusive　licence　to　Springer　Nature　Limited.