UI Patterns and Techniques
About Patterns
Organizing the Content
Getting Around
Organizing the Page
Showing Complex Data
Commands and Actions
Direct Manipulation
Stylistic Elements
Input Hints
From the Mac OS X system preferences |
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The UI presents a text field, but the kind of input it requires isn't patently obvious to all users. |
Why: |
If the UI is self-explanatory, the users don't have to guess what to type -- they don't even need to think about it! |
How: |
Write a short example or explanatory sentence, and put it
below the text field. Two examples conjoined by "or" works fine
too. Keep the text small and inconspicuous, though readable;
consider using a font two points smaller than the label font.
(One point's difference will look more like a mistake than an
intended font-size change!)
In The Design of Sites, van Duyne et. al. refer to this technique in their more general pattern "Preventing Errors." |
Examples: |
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From Word for Windows |
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