A toggle (also switch) is a control that allows people to quickly select between two opposing states or options, such as on and off. Toggles typically use a different appearance to show each state, so it’s easy for users to understand which state they’re currently in. Toggles are best used for actions that involve mutually exclusive events, such as selecting a checkbox or setting an option.
It’s common for designers to add colors to toggles to help clarify the current state, but these visual cues can cause confusion if they’re not carefully selected. For instance, the color red can be associated with emergency or stop signs and might not make sense for your audience, while green might mean “no cookies.” Choosing the right toggle color is not as simple as it seems, so it’s important to understand the nuances of this component before using it in your interface.
The toggle element has two clickable areas: the toggle itself and its associated label. When users click either area, the toggle will change its state. Toggles should always display a visible label and a state text (or other descriptive text) that clearly indicates the current state. For small toggles, the state text must be three words or less and must appear to the side of the toggle, rather than below it.
Toggle is an extremely useful and powerful web component that can be used in a wide variety of situations. However, when it is used incorrectly, toggles can be difficult for users to manage. For example, creating a toggle within a form that already has a Save button in the same place will confuse users and could lead to errors. Toggle should be avoided when possible in order to maintain clarity and ease of use.
In software programming, toggles are a type of Boolean variable that can be switched between two values by clicking on an icon or using a keyboard shortcut. Toggles are often used to hide or reveal features in user interfaces, as seen in the screenshot below. In a program, you can create a toggle by creating a Boolean variable and associating an event or action with it. The event or action will trigger the toggle to switch between two values, such as on and off. When the toggle is clicked again, it will return to its original value.
Toggles are a great tool for hiding or showing article content, but it’s important to keep in mind that they only work on logged-out pages. If visitors have access to the source code of your page, they may be able to see hidden content. To prevent this, use a more permanent solution such as a hidden comment or subscriber group container. Additionally, it’s important to note that toggles do not hide article links or spoiler buttons, so readers might be able to see them even if the visibility is turned off. Additionally, articles displayed in full article tooltips and in interactive maps may also show content that is hidden by the visibility toggle.
