When designing your interface, try to be consistent and predictable in your choice of interface elements. Whether they are aware of it or not, users have become familiar with elements acting in a certain way, so choosing to adopt those elements when appropriate will help with task completion, efficiency, and satisfaction.
Interface elements include but are not limited to:
- Input Controls: checkboxes, radio buttons, dropdown lists, list boxes, buttons, toggles, text fields, date field
- Navigational Components: breadcrumb, slider, search field, pagination, slider, tags, icons
- Informational Components: tooltips, icons, progress bar, notifications, message boxes, modal windows
- Containers: accordion
Input Controls
ElementDescriptionExamplesCheckboxesCheckboxes allow the user to select one or more options from a set. It is usually best to present checkboxes in a vertical list. More than one column is acceptable as well if the list is long enough that it might require scrolling or if comparison of terms might be necessary.Navigational Components
ElementDescriptionExamplesSearch FieldA search box allows users to enter a keyword or phrase [query] and submit it to search the index with the intention of getting back the most relevant results. Typically search fields are single-line text boxes and are often accompanied by a search button.Information Components
ElementDescriptionExamplesNotificationsA notification is an update message that announces something new for the user to see. Notifications are typically used to indicate items such as, the successful completion of a task, or an error or warning message.Containers
ElementDescriptionExamples
Accordion
Additional Information
- Jesse James Garrett’s The Elements of User Experience: User-Centered Design for the Web and Beyond [2nd Edition]
- User Interface Information for Android Developers
Which form control allows the user to select one or more options?
Checkboxes allow a user to select multiple choices. Set the Name of each checkbox so you can identify them in the form submission data. Checkboxes have Default styling.
What is the difference between form control and ActiveX control in Excel?
As Hans Passant said, Form controls are built in to Excel whereas ActiveX controls are loaded separately. Generally you'll use Forms controls, they're simpler. ActiveX controls allow for more flexible design and should be used when the job just can't be done with a basic Forms control.
What is a label control in access?
A label is a control that holds text for display purposes only. By default, MS Access adds a label containing the table name in the Form Header area of the form. To add a label you must click the Label control, then click [and drag for sizing] where you want the label placed.
What are ActiveX controls in Excel?
ActiveX controls are component program objects that Microsoft developed to enable applications to perform specific functions, such as displaying a calendar or playing a video. An ActiveX control is a small program that other applications can reuse to enable the same functionality, without the extra development work.