Toggle is an element that changes a state. It is commonly used in everyday technology devices to enable or disable features, and software applications to toggle between different display modes. It is also a popular user interface component in the web and mobile applications to help users update their preferences and settings.

When used effectively, toggles can make a big impact on user experience. They help users update their preferences and settings quickly and easily without having to click multiple times or navigating through long menus. They are especially effective when a single action can have a significant effect on a user’s experience, for example, changing from light to dark theme in an app or disabling cookies.

As with all UI components, it is important to think through the context in which you’re using toggles before they are deployed. Be sure to provide direct labels, use standard visual design and deliver immediate results to avoid confusion. Additionally, it is important to consider what a toggle will do in each situation, as this could influence its placement and how users understand it.

While toggles are great for updating settings and preference, it’s also important to be strategic about how you deploy them and keep your inventory of them low. A good way to manage this is by adding a process for vetting when toggles are appropriate and pruning them as soon as their lifecycle is complete. This will reduce the amount of cognitive overhead that toggles can create for users and teams.