Toggle is a user interface control that lets people manage the state of content or a view. They’re a great solution when a simple action needs to be performed that will have an immediate impact on the page (and can be reversed). Toggle switches are often found on mobile phones, tablets, and desktop computers, but they can also be used on websites and apps.
In the context of the web, toggles are usually designed to resemble sliders that use a visual cue to differentiate their states. This approach helps users make more informed decisions when deciding which side of the switch to press, since they can see what’s going to happen to the page if they turn it on or off. Toggle switches also allow for more precise control over their function, which is important when it comes to accessibility and other features that require more accuracy than just pressing a button.
When choosing which colors to use for the on and off states of a toggle, it’s important to consider contrast and cultural context. For example, using red for the on position can be counterintuitive to users in cultures where that color is associated with stop signs or traffic lights. Additionally, designers should think about the wording of their labels for the toggle’s state. Ideally, these should be direct and clear so that there’s no confusion about what the toggle will do when it is pressed.
Ideally, toggles should be sized appropriately for the platform they’re being used on. Small toggles are best for phones and tablets, while larger ones can be used on desktop computers. It’s also important to keep in mind that users may want to interact with a toggle with multiple fingers, which could make a smaller size more suitable.
As mentioned above, it’s also important to test the toggle configuration that will be released into production, but a lot of teams also like to test the fallback configuration (with all toggles flipped Off) to ensure that future features won’t cause any unexpected regressions. Additionally, some teams take it a step further and test the toggles with the new configuration flipped On as well, in order to ensure that they’re working properly.
For the more technically-minded, toggles can be configured via hardcoding on the server. This method has the benefit of not requiring any additional steps to re-configure the toggle after it’s been tested. However, it does have the disadvantage of limiting the dynamic re-configuration options that are available for things like feature flags.