A toggle is a control that lets people choose between a pair of opposing states, like on and off, using a different appearance to indicate each state. Toggles are used in web applications and native mobile apps alike. They are commonly used to enable features in responsive design and as a way to make content appear or disappear based on screen size. Toggles are also popular as a navigation tool for users who need to switch between modes, like desktop and mobile mode, in an application.
Generally speaking toggles should be simple to use. They should always clearly identify the setting, view or content that they affect, with the surrounding context providing enough information for people to understand what state they are in. They should have an interface icon that communicates its purpose and update its appearance – usually with a color change — based on its current state.
Toggles should not be confused with switches. While they have similar functionality, a switch is used to control an ongoing or permanent state while a toggle controls a one-time state. It’s common for developers to use switches for long-lived and semi-permanent features while they use toggles for short-lived or temporary features.
Savvy teams are careful to avoid over-provisioning toggles. They tend to keep the number of toggles they have as low as possible and are proactive in removing those that they haven’t used or don’t need anymore. Some teams even put “expiration dates” on their toggles to ensure that they’re not lingering around after they’ve been re-released.
Some platforms allow you to manage toggle configuration via static files which is fine for a small number of toggles but becomes cumbersome as the number grows. Others offer more dynamic ways to manage a toggle’s state such as using a preprocessor’s #ifdef feature or creating a dedicated config file for that purpose. In many cases however, managing a toggle’s state in some sort of centralized system such as a database or existing app DB is the best approach.
Most importantly, a toggle needs to be testable. It’s important for teams to test the toggle configuration they expect to release as well as a fall-back configuration where all of those toggles are flipped Off. To prevent surprise regressions in a future release it’s also often wise for a team to test the configuration with all of the toggles flipped On as well.
Toggle is an incredibly useful and powerful tool for development teams. While they can be difficult to implement properly, with a bit of guidance and discipline, they can be an invaluable part of any development workflow. This article provides an overview of the various aspects of designing a toggle and some best practices for using them in your own projects. By following the advice in this article, you can be sure that your toggles are as effective as they can be. This will help you deliver great experiences to your users and support the goals of your business.
