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In software applications, toggles (also known as feature flags) are used to turn features on or off, to switch between different modes or display settings, and to enable or disable certain behaviors. In some cases, toggles are implemented as checkboxes or radio buttons.

Although toggles offer some advantages, they can cause cognitive problems for users. The reason is that they often require the user to pay attention to an extra visual cue or additional text indicating the toggle’s state. This is problematic because, as WCAG points out, cognitively, we should be trying to minimize extra visual and textual overhead.

Additionally, if the toggle is visible, it will draw attention to itself, which can distract the user from the task at hand. For these reasons, it is best to keep the use of toggles to a minimum and when necessary, employ other techniques for implementing features such as collapsible panels or accordions. It is also good practice to clearly label each toggle so that it is easy for people to understand what it does and its current state. This helps ensure that the toggle is cognitively safe for all users, including those with disabilities who rely on color and other visual cues to understand the meaning of an object or action.