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Toggles (also referred to as toggle switches) are used in everyday technology devices to switch between different states and options. They are typically designed to have a clear and mutually exclusive state—on or off—and provide users with a quick way to update settings, features, or behavior. They’re commonly found in software applications that enable or disable various display modes, control modes, and functionality.

Unlike checkboxes, toggles can be used in accessibility-friendly markup. However, in some cases, toggles may not be the best user interface element for a given situation. In these situations, a button might be better suited to the task.

When using toggles in your products, it’s important to be consistent with their naming convention and to use standard visual design to ensure that the user is not confused. A good rule of thumb is to always give a toggle a descriptive name that indicates its purpose and expected outcome. Additionally, it is best practice to use high-contrast colors for the toggle states and to consider societal and cultural implications of color choice, especially for on/off states.