A toggle is a switch that has two positions, on or off. You can find them in everyday technology devices like smartphones and tablets, as well as software applications for turning features on or off.
In user interface design, toggle switches are used to update preferences and settings. When designing a toggle, it’s important to consider both the label and the visual cues surrounding it. A toggle should have clear, direct labels and utilize standard visual design. The design of a toggle should also incorporate movement and color to help users identify the current state of the switch.
The word “toggle” comes from the fact that it’s a physical switch with two positions, or states. The switch can be either on or off, and a toggle is a quick way to move between different modes of operation or display. Using toggles in software is an efficient way to manage complex functionality. It allows us to provide a rich experience while reducing overall code complexity and maintenance.
Toggles are commonly found in applications that require users to switch between light and dark themes for readability or aesthetic reasons. Similarly, they are used in websites that allow users to toggle between a map and a stream view for navigating content on the site. This flexibility is critical to making the user experience as enjoyable as possible.
Although many people use toggles in software, some do not understand their meaning or how to use them. Toggles can be confusing for new users and should only be used when there is a need to enable or disable functionality that would otherwise be inaccessible. It is important to educate users on the purpose and function of a toggle and how it can be used properly.
In general, it is a good idea to minimize the number of toggles in your application. Having too many toggles can create confusion for the user and may result in bugs or performance issues. Additionally, it is important to have a process for vetting whether or not a toggle is the appropriate solution to a problem. This can be as simple as adding a new feature flag ticket to your team’s backlog or building the process into your feature management platform.
Name your toggles with meaningful names. This will give some context to someone who is reading an error message, such as who wrote the toggle, how long it has been in production and what it does.
It’s also a best practice to name toggles with conditions that apply to their usage, such as “permission toggle” or “article visibility toggle.” For example, an e-commerce company might name a toggle like “annual sale” when it is only needed during the annual sales event and then rename it to something more descriptive after the event has passed.
