Toggle is a simple, user-interface component that allows the end-user to update preferences and settings. It can be used to enable or disable features or to display specific kinds of content. When toggles are accompanied by clear and direct labels, they can be very effective. However, the effectiveness of a toggle can be diminished when the labeling is ambiguous or when there are societal and cultural implications that influence what a toggle looks like.
A toggle is a two-position switch that is either on or off. It is a very familiar element found in most technology devices and software applications. A toggle is often used to enable or disable various functionality such as the WiFi or Bluetooth buttons on a smartphone, or it can be used to show or hide certain kinds of content.
In software development, toggles are commonly used to perform multivariate or A/B testing. In such tests, the Toggle Router is configured to consistently send a given user down one codepath or another, and by tracking aggregate behavior we can make data-driven optimizations to things like the purchase flow of an ecommerce system or the Call to Action wording on a button.
When it comes to toggles, there are a few rules that developers need to follow. First, it is important to keep the number of toggles as low as possible. Large numbers of toggles can add significant overhead to the system. Toggles should be deployed only where they are needed and only for as long as they are required. It is also important to avoid deploying toggles that overlap in any way. This can lead to confusion for users and can create a maintenance burden that falls on the team.
Finally, when using toggles, developers should use a standardized visual design and implement them in a consistent manner. This helps users understand what the toggle does and where it is in its state at any given time. Using a high-contrast color to indicate state change is helpful. Additionally, it is important to consider societal and cultural implications when selecting color schemes for toggles. For example, using red for the on position may be counterintuitive for audiences that associate it with stop signs or stop lights.
Another way that toggles are useful is in the context of feature flags, or what some teams refer to as “feature toggles.” A feature toggle can be used to enable or disable code branches for a limited duration of time. This is an alternative to creating and merging separate code branches and can help reduce the time spent debugging.
For instance, let’s say an e-commerce company decides that algorithm B is resource intensive and should only be enabled for its premium users. The developer would create a release toggle in the master codebase and then use it to roll out the new feature. When the beta phase of the feature is complete, the developer can simply roll back to the original state using a toggle configuration change. This is a much more efficient process than creating and merging a full code branch under more traditional waterfall development models.
