A toggle is a switch that enforces a mutually exclusive state, such as “on” and “off”. It’s often used to enable or disable features of an application.
For example, an app that automatically downloads media content would use a toggle to allow the user to enable or disable this feature. However, it’s important to understand that a toggle is not the appropriate choice for every situation. An incorrectly implemented toggle could cause the user to experience problems, such as when a toggle is used to implement a one-time action. For instance, a toggle that downloads content when the button is pressed should only remain on until the end of the download process. Then, the toggle should be turned off to prevent further downloads.
Toggle configuration can be managed in several ways, ranging from approaches that are relatively simple and less dynamic through to more sophisticated options. The approach that is chosen will depend on the needs of the project and the complexity of the toggle.
Traditionally, developers manage toggles in static files that live side-by-side with the source code for an application. This method is simple to use and has the benefit of being able to track the history of a toggle. However, the downside is that it doesn’t support dynamic re-configuration of a toggle. This is not suitable for applications that must support a large number of configurations.
Another common method of managing a toggle is to use an existing application DB to store the toggle configuration. This is typically accompanied by the build-out of an admin UI for users, testers and product managers to view and modify toggles. This type of management system is usually more complicated to implement, but can be very useful for a complex toggle.
The most important thing to remember when designing and implementing a toggle is that it should be easy for the user to tell what the current state of the toggle is. This means that the label should make it clear what the function of the toggle is, and it should clearly indicate whether it is currently enabled or disabled. The use of visual cues, such as colors, is often necessary to ensure that users can easily interpret the state of a toggle. For example, some users may have red/green color blindness, which would make it difficult for them to discern green from red unless there are visual cues to help them.
Ultimately, the best way to ensure that a toggle is effective is to test it. By testing a toggle in production, the developer can see how it performs and identify any issues before they impact real users. Then, by modifying the toggle before rolling it out to all users, they can improve the experience of everyone using their software. Keeping a low inventory of toggles is also key to ensuring that the software always has an optimal experience for the user. By deploying a toggle strategically and pruning it as soon as its lifecycle has run out, teams can avoid the negative effects of bloated toggles.
