A toggle is a small switch with two positions, on or off. It’s often used to change system settings or preferences. Toggles are a good choice when it comes to mobile because they can be easier to use than radio buttons and take up less space. They also come with a default state, which can save users time and effort.
When designing your toggle, make sure the colors and text are clear and legible. It’s important that the toggle label clearly describes the option it controls, as well as what state it’s in right now. Use a color that signals the state. For example, red signals “on” while green indicates “off.” It’s also important to consider societal and cultural implications of color choices. For instance, some users might not see the green state as being “on.”
The best way to test a toggle is to run a feature flag test with both its current and expected states. For this reason, many teams prefer to build out their toggle configuration in some type of centralized location rather than hardcoding it in static files. While this approach can become cumbersome when it reaches a certain scale, it’s still preferable to a system that requires you to re-deploy code in order to modify a toggle configuration.
One of the biggest problems with using toggles in long forms is that users have to click a Submit button to apply a new state. This can be confusing for users and leads to frustration. A better alternative is to replace the toggle with a checkbox or similar control that delivers immediate results.
Toggle switches are also useful for adjusting settings or options for an entire group of people. For example, a museum might want to give its members access to exclusive content by using a toggle. In this case, the museum would set up a toggle that allows its members to select whether they’d like to receive email notifications of special offers and news. This way, the museum can send its membership an email that’s more relevant to their interests while still maintaining a high level of privacy. The museum could then easily update the toggle whenever it wants to send a different email to its members. This kind of personalization is a big part of the value that toggles provide. They’re easy to use, effective in most contexts and are a valuable addition to any design toolbox. For these reasons, it’s critical that you use them consistently on your website or app. Just remember to follow a few simple best practices: Provide direct labels, use standard visual design and deliver immediate results. If you can’t do this, avoid toggles or replace them with other types of controls. With a little bit of care and attention, you can create toggles that enhance user experience and help your site or app stand out from the competition.
