Toggle is a web component that allows users to update preferences, settings and other types of information. This is a simple, but powerful control that can have a big impact on user experience when used correctly.
When using toggles, make sure to only use them for binary actions that will immediately change the state of a property. For example, if you have a form that allows the user to choose which emails they would like to receive, this could be a good place for a toggle. This is because the change will happen immediately, so it’s clear what action they are taking.
In addition to this, when a toggle is triggered it will cause the opposing event to be executed. This can be confusing for the user, and in some cases the toggle may trigger two events at once. This is a common mistake that can be avoided by clearly stating what the toggle will do when it is triggered, and using a standard visual design.
Toggles should be used sparingly to provide a clear, concise interface that is easy for users to understand. They are not ideal for forms or within full pages of content. The toggle should always be clear in what it is a part of, and the current state that it is in. A good way to communicate this is to have the toggle name match the context, for example ‘Emails’ or ‘Cookies’. Toggles should also be consistent in their appearance across the application, for example by having a toggle icon that changes color or other visual cues to indicate its state.
A feature toggle can be a very useful tool for development teams. By allowing features to be merged into the codebase but hidden behind a toggle until they are ready to be exposed to the users, a team can roll out new functionality in a controlled way. This will allow the team to gauge how well a new feature performs and whether it requires any changes before it is fully rolled out.
However, it’s important to remember that every feature toggle comes with a management cost and that this should be kept to an absolute minimum. Savvy teams will consider this cost when deploying a toggle and will try to limit the number of toggles that are in active use. This can be done by adding a toggle removal task to the team’s backlog or even building this process into their management platform.
It is also worth noting that any changes to a toggle will require a deployment that includes the updated configuration. This means that if a toggle is no longer in use it should be removed from the system immediately. Leaving old toggles lying around in the codebase will not only increase the maintenance costs, but can lead to bugs and errors down the line when they are accidentally activated. To avoid this, some teams will set up expiration dates on their toggles to prevent them from accumulating in the codebase over time.
