A toggle is a knob-shaped control that allows users to make one-time changes to the configuration of a system or piece of hardware. For example, it could be used to turn a feature on or off like an airplane mode. Unlike radio buttons, which require the user to select both states simultaneously, toggles provide clear distinction between on and off. They also take up less screen space in comparison to two radio buttons and allow for immediate results when pressed. For these reasons, toggles are a preferred option for changing preferences or settings.
Toggles are most effective when they use direct labels and a visual design that is familiar to users. For example, a standard on/off icon works well for toggles, and using a color that is easily discernible in the context of the surrounding page helps users know whether the toggle is in its default state or has been switched. Additionally, if a toggle has multiple states, using different colors for each is a good way to differentiate between them. It’s important to consider societal and cultural implications when choosing the color of a toggle, as certain colors have different meanings in some cultures. For instance, the color red may be counterintuitive for users who associate it with stop signs or traffic signals.
Another key aspect of effective toggles is that they don’t have an empty state. If a toggle is completely off, it is still active in the user’s mind and should be labelled appropriately to avoid confusion. Lastly, toggles should be designed with a clear and consistent layout to ensure that the same mental model is applied across pages. This will help reduce cognitive load on the user and increase consistency and clarity.
When used in a form field, it’s critical that toggles always offer immediate results and are not used in combination with other types of forms that require the user to click a Submit button for changes to take effect. For example, if a toggle is used in a long form and the user needs to wait a few seconds for the toggle to process, it’s better to replace it with a checkbox.
For developers, it’s important to think about the lifetime of a toggle. If it’s too short-lived, it might create unnecessary cognitive strain on the user and increase the chance of bugs or issues being introduced in a later release. For this reason, it’s recommended that developers utilize a process called Champagne Brunch or blue-green deployment to manage the life cycle of new features and limit the impact of each release.
The visibility toggle is a tool that allows content owners to hide sections and items in their article from viewers. However, there are some technical limitations that prevent the toggle from working on some content, including:
