Configuring a Toggle

A toggle is a switch that has two positions, either on or off. They are commonly used in software to enable users to turn a feature on and off based upon their preference. Toggles can also be found on hardware such as a keyboard’s Caps Lock or Num Lock keys where they are used to control a specific function when pressed.

When designing Toggles it is important to consider accessibility, especially for users who use screen readers and other assistive technologies. It is recommended to use a high-contrast color for the toggle, and clearly label the state of the switch (On or Off) in both text and icon form. This will make it easy for users to understand the current state of the toggle and avoid confusion. It is also recommended to not rely solely on color for meaning, and instead to include additional context in the label such as a description of the behavior or a screenshot of the current state of the toggle.

In general it is best to test the toggle configuration which you expect to become live in production. This means that all toggles which you intend to release flipped On should be tested as well as any toggles which you want to ensure remain flipped Off. It is also a good idea to test the fallback configuration where existing or legacy behavior is enabled and new or experimental behavior is not.

In many cases static files can be a good way to manage the configuration of a Toggle. However as the Toggle’s configuration reaches a certain size it becomes impractical and it is often necessary to build out an admin UI which allows testers, product managers and system operators to view and modify the Configuration of a Toggle.