A toggle is a switch that can be set to two opposing states. It’s often used in technology, computing, and programming to allow users to switch between different settings or options. The term can also be applied to software that allows users to disable features they don’t use or want to keep.
Toggles are a powerful tool for UI designers, as they offer an easy way to control and change user interfaces without having to alter existing code. In addition, they can help limit the impact of changes on the overall design by providing a way to roll out new features in small increments. However, it’s important to think carefully about the context and usage of toggle switches before implementing them. Toggle switches are typically placed in the interface where the user needs to update a preference, setting, or other form of information, so it’s essential that they provide clear and direct labels. They should also be visually recognizable, with movement or color changes to help users understand the current state.
Although toggles can be an effective UI design element, they can be confusing for users if not used correctly. Because they don’t include any text indicating an on or off state, users must rely on other visual cues to determine what the toggle is doing. For example, many designs use colors to differentiate the toggle’s state, but this can be problematic for users with color blindness or other vision impairments.
In addition to their ability to help developers roll out new functionality in small increments, toggles can be useful in support of agile development practices. By hiding new features behind toggles, you can perform the entire development and testing process right on trunk code, rather than using separate code branches.
Feature toggles can be particularly helpful for application and system stability, as they can be turned on or off during high latency periods. In this way, they can help prevent users from accidentally hitting bugs or experiencing unintended behavior. In addition, they can also serve as a circuit breaker for an application by temporarily disabling non-essential features during peak traffic times.
Permission toggles are another common type of toggle in web applications. They can be used to enable or disable premium features for users who have upgraded their accounts. Similarly, they can be used to restrict access to certain features for free users who have not yet subscribed. Using permission toggles can help developers manage the user experience, improve customer retention, and maximize revenue. For example, an online investment platform might use permission toggles to provide users with a personalized experience based on their account status. This may include highlighting relevant news stories, providing recommendations for related content, or displaying more prominent ads. In this way, the platform can help its subscribers make better investment decisions by tailoring the user experience to match their specific needs and preferences. This approach is known as user-centric design and can significantly improve conversion rates.
