How to Use a Toggle Control in a Web Application
Toggle is a control that allows the user to rapidly switch between two possible states, or actions. Toggle switches are commonly used as on/off controls, such as the lights in your home or car. They can also be used to toggle between different vantage points when video chatting with friends, or even between multiple screens on your tablet or phone.
When using a Toggle, it is important to always make the current state obvious to users. This is usually done through a high-contrast color to indicate that the toggle is currently in an active state and a low-contrast color when it is not. This is particularly important for people with color blindness and other visual impairments. It is also a good idea to include label text to further clarify what the toggle will do if it is turned on.
Another thing to keep in mind with Toggles is that it can be difficult for users to determine which path the Toggle will take. This can be overcome by implementing a feature flag system that provides for runtime configuration of the Toggle. This can be a very effective way to allow testers, developers and product managers to quickly and easily see and exercise both paths of a Toggle at any time during a release cycle.
Toggles are not typically the best option for controls that require immediate results. In these cases, it is generally preferable to use a checkbox instead of a Toggle. If your toggle requires a long delay before the new state is applied, consider implementing a processing status loop animation.