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The Problem with Confirmation Dialogs
“I accidentally deleted… Can you find it in your backups?” says every user ever.
Yeah, “accidentally,” sure…
But since I think that confirmation dialogs are a bad design in general, these requests are annoying, but I get it. It’s just proof that the traditional approach is ineffective in preventing terminal actions a user doesn’t really want to make.
Confirmation pop-ups – whether browser-based or custom – are often more annoying than helpful. They interrupt the user’s flow and can lead to “confirmation fatigue,” where users habitually click through dialogs without truly processing the action they’re about to take.
The Advantage of Hold-to-Confirm Buttons
Frankly, for how simple it is to implement, it’s a game-changer.
Hold-to-confirm buttons require the user to press and hold a button for a predetermined amount of time (e.g., 1 to 5 seconds) to execute an action. This method offers several benefits:
• Intentionality: Holding a button creates a continuous period where the user subconsciously but actively considers their action.
• Reduced Errors: By requiring sustained interaction, accidental clicks are none. Really, zero – we’ve had none since implementation, unlike tens of requests per month with confirmation dialogs.
• Enhanced UX: It provides a smoother, less intrusive experience compared to disruptive confirmation dialogs.
How It Works
When a user initiates a hold-to-confirm action, a visual indicator (like a progress bar) fills up over the hold period. If the user releases the button before completion, the action is canceled. This simple mechanism effectively replaces the need for a secondary confirmation step.
Real-World Implementation and Results
We first implemented hold-to-confirm buttons in our Grace projects for deletion actions. We set a 3-second hold time with a filling progress bar of a contrasting color. This duration proved sufficient without being tedious.
The Outcome?
• Immediate Success: We saw a total mitigation of accidental deletions.
• Positive Feedback: Only a few users needed clarification on the new mechanism.
• Improved Satisfaction: Users appreciated it over dialogs.
Determining the Appropriate Hold Duration
It’s not as tricky as it sounds. Here’s how we go about it:
• Terminal Actions (e.g., Deletions): 3 seconds. These actions are irreversible and may affect user data significantly.
• Critical Actions Affecting Others: Up to 5 seconds. For actions like canceling an invoice that notifies customers, a longer hold time ensures a higher level of deliberate intent. It can get a little bit annoying, which is the purpose.
• Easily Reversible Actions: 1 to 1.5 seconds. For actions like unpublishing articles, shorter hold times maintain efficiency while still requiring intent and thought.
The Importance of Visual Feedback
Visual cues are the most important for the effectiveness of hold-to-confirm buttons:
• Progress Indicators: A filling bar or countdown communicates that the button needs to be held.
• Immediate Feedback: If the button is clicked (not held), a brief movement of the progress bar signals that the user should hold the button.
• Completion Animation: A subtle effect after the hold is complete confirms that the action has been executed.
Implementing Hold-to-Confirm in Your Projects
To implement hold-to-confirm buttons in your projects, follow these steps:
1. Choose a suitable hold duration based on the action’s importance and potential impact.
2. Design a visually appealing progress indicator that communicates the hold requirement.
3. Use immediate feedback to notify the user if they release the button prematurely.
4. Provide a subtle completion animation to confirm the action’s execution.
Conclusion
Hold-to-confirm buttons offer a superior alternative to traditional confirmation dialogs by:
• Enhancing user intentionality.
• Reducing accidental actions.
• Streamlining the user experience.
By rethinking how we approach confirmations, we can create applications that are not only more user-friendly but also more effective in preventing unintended consequences.
FAQs
Q: Have you used hold-to-action buttons?
A: Yes, we’ve implemented hold-to-confirm buttons in our Grace projects and seen a significant reduction in accidental actions.
Q: Do you get those “accidentally deleted” notes from users?
A: No, since implementing hold-to-confirm buttons, we’ve had none of those requests.
Q: What do you think about confirmation dialogs or holding buttons?
A: I think hold-to-confirm buttons are a game-changer. They provide a smoother, more intentional user experience compared to traditional confirmation dialogs.
