Toggles

A toggle is a control that alternates between two discrete states, commonly on and off. In user interfaces, toggles let users enable or disable a setting with a single action. Visually, toggles often appear as a sliding switch, a flipped button, or a stateful icon that changes appearance when activated.

Toggles exist in both hardware and software. Mechanical or electrical toggle switches physically connect or disconnect circuits and are found on equipment, appliances, and control panels. Software toggles, sometimes called switch controls or flip switches, mirror the binary concept and are used in operating systems, applications, and websites to manage features, preferences, privacy options, or mode selections.

Design and usability considerations are central to effective toggles. A good toggle clearly communicates its current state, uses an explicit label, and provides immediate feedback when toggled. Accessibility is important: controls should be operable via keyboard, support screen readers, and convey state beyond color alone, for example through text labels or ARIA roles such as role="switch" and state indication.

Toggles are best suited for independent, binary decisions that apply immediately and persistently. They are distinct from checkboxes, which represent a broader selection or preference rather than an instantaneous on/off state. In software development, toggles may be controlled components whose state is managed within the application, often linked to user preferences, feature flags, or privacy controls.