Indicators, Validations, and Notifications: Pick the Correct Communication Option
Summary: Status feedback is crucial to the success of any system. Knowing when to use 3 common communication methods is key to supporting users.
In interaction design, a system, whether an application, website, or piece of hardware (anything from a smartwatch to a thermostat ), should always keep users informed , by providing appropriate feedback. Ensuring that the state of the system is always visible is one of the 10 usability heuristics for interface design . Information about system status, such as error messages and notifications of system activity, allows users to fully understand the current context.
The best way to communicate system status varies depending on several key factors:
Three common approaches for status communication include validation, notifications, and status indicators. These terms are used sometimes interchangeably in product design, but they stand for different communication methods that should be used in different circumstances. Understanding the differences between them will help you sharpen your feedback to users by choosing the best option for each need.
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