Toggle is a digital trade magazine highlighting the crucial role technology plays in business and the people who make it work. From navigating the challenges of technical debt to understanding how a change in IT will impact the rest of an organization, Toggle is here to help leaders stay a step ahead of the curve.

The word toggle refers to a switch that has two positions: on and off. When used in software, toggles are often found as a means to update preferences, settings and other types of information. Toggles are useful because they provide clear visual cues to the current state of a feature. When using toggles, it is important to evaluate the context and ensure that they are consistent in their use. Toggle switches should always have direct labels and employ standard design.

Lastly, it is imperative that designers never rely on color alone to convey a toggle’s state. While this is a common practice, it can be confusing for users who depend on accessibility features to navigate your application. Using high-contrast colors or adding a state descriptor (like On and Off) can significantly improve accessibility for these users.

Toggles are a common element of product experimentation and can be extremely effective when they are used to deliver data-driven optimizations. When paired with a Toggle Router, you can send different cohorts down one codepath or the other and then compare performance metrics to identify the best option for your product.