A toggle is a switch that has two positions—on or off. It’s a form of binary control, and it is commonly found in software settings and hardware devices. For example, a keyboard’s Caps Lock and Num Lock keys serve as toggles for their respective functions; when they are pressed once, they turn on the function and when they are pressed again, they turn it off. The word “toggle” is also used as a verb, meaning to switch back and forth between different tasks or settings (such as toggling between video chats with two people at once on Skype).
When it comes to user interface design, toggle switches are a useful tool when you need to change a specific setting or preference. They’re simple to use and offer immediate results, making them an ideal choice for changing things like background colors, font size, or the amount of data you want Facebook to collect about your usage. However, if not properly designed, toggles can become confusing and even difficult for users to understand.
If you’re using a toggle to set system preferences or other options that require an active state, you should consider replacing it with a checkbox instead. They take up less screen space and are easier to understand than radio buttons, which require more explanation to understand. For instance, a toggle would be the right control for setting Airplane Mode ON or OFF on mobile devices, but in most other cases a simple checkbox will be more appropriate.
The color cues you use to distinguish a toggle’s active state can have a significant impact on how easy or hard it is to comprehend. In research, designers have shown that a more pronounced or saturated color is a more reliable way to convey a button’s current state than lighter or less emphasized colors. However, this can be confusing for users with red/green color blindness or who have difficulty distinguishing between shades of gray.
Another visual cue you can add to a toggle is an embossment. This can be a subtle element that communicates the active state without relying on an additional color or font size. However, the embossment must be combined with other primary visual cues and is not recommended as a standalone cue.
The most important thing to remember when designing a toggle is that it should be clear what action it performs. A well-designed toggle will have a label and action text that clearly describe its binary action—whether to turn it on or off. The action must be stated in three words or less to ensure that the user can quickly recognize what it means to click or tap the toggle. Additionally, the toggle should be positioned in a prominent location that stands out visually from its surrounding content. This will help users quickly locate and distinguish the toggle from other elements in your interface.
