A toggle is a control that lets users update preferences, settings or other types of information. Toggles work best when they have direct labels, a standard visual design and deliver immediate results. They should not require the user to click a Save or Confirm button, and they should never be used as a replacement for other types of controls (e.g., checkboxes).
Toggles have become a popular feature for continuous delivery practices. They can be used to experiment with new features and validate them with a subset of the product’s user base before rolling out full functionality. Additionally, they can act as circuit breakers during production by temporarily disabling non-essential features during high latency periods.
While a toggle is a simple concept, it can cause significant problems when used incorrectly. Toggle controls are often designed without accessibility in mind. This makes them inaccessible to users of assistive technologies, which can be frustrating and confusing for people who depend on these tools to navigate web pages and mobile apps. In addition, designers frequently use contrasting colors to signal the state of a toggle, but this approach can cause confusion for users with color vision deficiency. For example, 8% of men are red-green color blind, and using red as the on state can be counterintuitive for them.
Moreover, toggles should be used cautiously to avoid cognitive overload. For example, designers should avoid placing them in long forms where they can be confused with other controls. They should also avoid using them for settings that have a default value, as this can lead to ambiguity and confusion for users. Instead, radio buttons or checkboxes are a better choice for these settings.
Finally, developers should carefully consider whether they need to create a toggle around any bug fixes that are going to be deployed. While this practice is generally recommended, it’s important to consider each bug fix on a case-by-case basis. A toggle might be necessary if the fix could potentially worsen the original behavior of the app, but it might not be needed if the bug has already caused significant problems for a small subset of users.
Ultimately, toggles are an essential tool for enabling and managing feature experimentation and reducing the risk of a release flop. By allowing product teams to roll out and back features with ease, they can shorten their deployment cycles and get more feedback from their users. But toggles should be used sparingly, and only when they are a good fit for the product’s architecture and user needs. Otherwise, they can add a significant amount of friction to the development and deployment process. By following these guidelines, we can ensure that toggles are used in a way that maximizes the benefits they provide. By avoiding the common pitfalls, they can help us build a better software experience for everyone.
