A toggle is a user interface control that lets people manage the state of a view or content. It usually has only two positions, on and off. It’s easy for people to identify the toggle’s purpose, because it generally has a clear icon and updates its appearance—typically by changing the background color—based on its current state. A toggle should always have a label that identifies what the user can do with it. Toggles can be used to update settings, change views or even hide content. They can be a great way to simplify complex or overwhelming options. However, if used in the wrong context, they can confuse users and make them feel overwhelmed and frustrated. To avoid this, ensure that toggles are clearly communicated to the user and that they can be used in a simple way.
The word toggle is derived from the verb “toggle.” In the 18th century, it referred to pins that were passed through the eye of ropes to fasten them in place. Today, it’s also commonly used to refer to a switch that allows you to turn on and off devices like lights or computers. As a metaphor, it’s a powerful word because it suggests that you can shift between multiple states. For example, you might want to toggle between a screen showing your current work and a stream of emails when you’re at home with your kids. You could also toggle between a live map of your location and the list of all the places you’ve visited on Google Earth.
Toggle is also a key element of many dev workflows. For example, a team may use an experiment toggle to test the performance of two suggestion algorithms before deciding which one to implement in production. They can set up the toggle with a modulo that splits users into two cohorts and then run a controlled A/B test. Once they have conclusive data, they can remove the toggle and choose which algorithm to roll out to all users.
Managing feature toggles can become difficult as they grow in number and scope. A good strategy is to avoid overlapping toggles and keep them short-lived. Keeping toggle configuration in a central location, such as an existing application DB, makes it easy for product managers and dev teams to see and modify the toggle’s state.
Toggle management practices are crucial to a healthy codebase. For example, defining ownership of toggles, automating documentation and regularly auditing them help prevent technical debt from building up and hurting developer productivity. Keeping the code clean by decoupling decision points and using structured configuration files are other ways to improve maintainability. With the right strategies in place, toggles can provide flexibility and safety net all in one. But only if they’re implemented correctly and managed with discipline.
