In computing, a toggle refers to a switch that has two outcomes: on or off. It is used for everything from setting system preferences to turning on or off certain options in a program.

Toggle is a common user interface element in many web applications and apps. They allow users to change settings or preferences and can be very useful for providing a simple user-interface component that can make an impact on the experience of using your site or app.

When choosing toggle controls, remember that they should be easy to understand and deliver immediate results. They should also be standard in their visual design and use a color that reflects the state they are in.

Color is an important signifier for the toggle state and it should always be high-contrast so that it is easy to see and distinguish between the two states. Additionally, state descriptors such as “On” and “Off” next to the toggle can provide a clear visibility of the system status.

Another consideration is whether toggles should be in a form field, which may require users to click the Save or Confirm button before changes can take place. For these cases, it is preferable to replace toggles with a single checkbox.

In addition to being a great way to manage feature flags, toggle configuration is also an effective tool for testing and monitoring. For example, if you’re running an automated test to make sure that a Release Toggle is working correctly you can easily turn it off or on via an API endpoint in real-time and thereby avoid restarting the test process.