Toggle

[samanthasaw]

What

A component that allows users to change a setting between two opposing states with immediate results.

Why

Explain why you think we should add this to the NHS digital service manual.

We use toggles in the NHS App for allowing users to switch on or off:
• notifications
• cookies

We now have 700,000 NHS App users who are interacting with toggles.

We recommend adding this component to the service manual, but only for use in apps.

• What evidence do you have that services across the NHS need it?
• What evidence do you have that it meets the needs of the users of those services?

Toggles work best when they are implemented consistently, so the user recognises what they are and knows they do not have to click save or submit for the change to take effect.
We would benefit from a consistent approach for allowing users to change settings and preferences within an app.

• Have you checked that it doesn't already exist in the NHS digital service manual?

Yes

Anything else

If you can, include links to any examples, research or code to support your proposal.

NHS App toggle examples:

Research findings

December 2018:
After turning finger print ID on, some users were confused by the ‘back’ button, they wanted a ‘continue’. It didn’t feel intuitive for users to go back after setting this, they wanted to be automatically directed to the homepage, a success message or to have to log in with finger print ID.
“I expected I’d have to log back in once I’ve set it.”

October 2019:
Testing the Manage notifications page

• 5 users were able to toggle on Notifications
• 1 user was unsure if it was on or off (dyslexia and dyspraxia)
• 1 user couldn’t toggle on and was trying to swipe rather than tap (non smartphone user)

December 2019:
Testing the Manage cookies page

Two users struggled to use the toggle and tried dragging several times.
Some users struggled with the green colour for ‘on’ and knowing when the toggle was on or off.