A toggle is a piece of hardware or software that can turn a function on or off. It can be found in many different everyday technology devices such as a keyboards Caps Lock and Num Lock button or in options menus in software applications like Facebook.
The word toggle derives from the 18th century meaning “pin passed through the eye of a rope to hold it in place.” It is also commonly used to describe switching back and forth between settings or programs like Microsoft Excel and Windows calculator. In digital interfaces, toggles are most often implemented as buttons or icons that look similar to sliders and can be either static or animated.
While at first glance a toggle seems simple, there can be a lot of nuance to the design element. As an example, when creating a toggle for the web, designers should consider a number of factors such as contrast and cultural implications. For instance, color is an important visual signifier for toggles and choosing the right colors to indicate states can have significant effects on user perception. When choosing a color, it is best to use high contrast that makes the state change obvious to users. In addition, it is recommended to include a clear label with the on/off state for each toggle, and when possible, to use text that describes the action the toggle is taking (e.g. “enabled” or “disabled”).
In continuous development workflows, toggles can be a great way to test new features before full rollout with a specific subset of the audience. They can be used to experiment with things like user experience, user onboarding, or product marketing. Ultimately, this practice can reduce the risk of rolling out a feature that isn’t well received by the end user.
Another benefit of toggles is that they can act as circuit breakers in case of latency or other stability issues in a program. By allowing developers to remotely enable/disable features, they can minimize downtime and keep the production system running smoothly.
When implementing toggles in code, it is recommended to name them clearly and consistently so that anyone on the team can understand their purpose. In addition, it’s important to avoid using the word “flag” for a toggle because it can imply an uncontrolled, global change in a program. Instead, the term “feature toggle” is more appropriate for a single decision point that allows for control and management by individual teams.
