What is a Toggle?

Toggle is a term used to describe the ability for users to switch between settings or features. In the context of software it refers to options in a menu that can be either on or off. It is also commonly used for hardware switches like the caps lock or num lock key on a keyboard.

In UX Toggles are an important tool for helping users update their preferences and settings. They should be clearly labeled, use standard visual design and deliver immediate results. It is important that toggles are structured well to minimize scrolling. Collapsible toggles such as accordions are often a good choice and can help to create structure and hierarchy on long pages. Using color wisely is also important. It is recommended that colors be high contrast and preferably have some societal or cultural meaning associated with them. In addition, it is a good idea to include state descriptors on the toggle so that users are not confused by its current state.

Many organizations choose to manage the configuration of Toggles through some type of centralized store, usually an existing application DB. This helps with consistency and can reduce the time and effort required to make changes. It is also a good way to maintain version control of the toggle configuration. In general, the toggling decision for a Release Toggle should be short-lived, although product-centric toggles may need to be in place for longer periods of time.