Daily Archives: April 4, 2023

How to Test Toggle Controls

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Toggle – Definition

In computing, a toggle is a switch that can have only two states: on or off. These controls are commonly found in software as options menus, and they allow users to easily switch between various features and functions.

A toggle can also refer to hardware switches that enable specific buttons to be pressed, such as Caps Lock and Num Lock keys on the keyboard. They’re used to control particular functions and can be found in all sorts of devices from desktop computers to smartphones.

Experiment Toggle

This type of toggle allows you to send different groups of users down a path, so that you can experiment with a new feature or product experience and gather feedback. It’s a great way to test out a new workflow or user interface component and see what works best for your users before committing it to production.

During testing, toggles are often flipped On and Off to see which state works better for your users. This approach helps teams to avoid surprises later on when they roll out a new version of a product with changes to a feature’s behavior.

When you’re testing toggles, keep these tips in mind:

Color is an important visual signifier and it should be used to convey the change of state. Low-contrast colors can be confusing, so it’s a good idea to use a high-contrast color that stands out from the background.

Toggle labels are an important part of any user-interface, and they should be clear and direct. Toggle labels should not be neutral or ambiguous, and they should clearly describe what the toggle will do when it’s on.

It’s also a good idea to include a state descriptor in the label to provide a more pronounced and obvious sign of whether the toggle is on or off. The most common state descriptors are “On” or “Off,” but you can add other descriptive words as well to help users understand what the switch will do.

This type of toggle is most commonly used for A/B testing, where you send users down different paths to see which ones work better. You can also use toggles to create a fallback configuration where some features are disabled.

Toggle Configuration and Deployment

Using toggles is a great way to help manage your team’s release pipeline, but it can be a tricky area to tackle. It’s not only important to have a toggle configuration in place, but it’s also crucial to have a plan for deploying and maintaining it.

The first step is to define the toggle configuration and to set the appropriate timescales for deploying and updating it. This is usually done through a configuration system that’s deployed in the same manner as your product itself.