Progress bars
Overview
Description
It’s an animated icon, typically a circle or other graphic, that appears to show a process is underway. Spinners are used when a website, app, or software needs time to load content, save data, authenticate, or perform any other background operation.
Uses
- Provides visual feedback: it gives an immediate visual signal that the system is processing, rather than appearing frozen or unresponsive.
- Manages expectations: by showing something is happening, it communicates that the system is working and that the user’s request has been received and is being addressed.
- Reduces frustration: instead of silence and uncertainty, a spinner offers a sense of active progress, which is a more positive experience than a blank screen.
- Gives a sense of control: users feel more in control knowing their action has triggered a response, even if they cannot speed up the process itself.
Value to User
- Reduces uncertainty: spinners alleviates ambiguity by clearly indicating that a task is in progress.
- Creates assurance: users feel reassured that their request is being fulfilled, leading to a better overall perception of the application’s performance.
- Improves user experience: by making the waiting period feel more interactive and less like dead time, spinners contribute to a smoother and more pleasant user journey.
- Prevents abandonment: spinners helps keep users engaged by providing a visual cue that the system hasn’t crashed, encouraging them to wait for the task to complete.
Best Practices
- Use spinners when the user advances to a new page or performs an action and the system is processing data or fetching information.
- Spinners are best suited for loading a single module, such as a card or video within a larger page or dashboard.
- For longer delays, use a determinate progress indicator (a progress bar) that shows a specific percentage of completion.
- For full-page loads use e a skeleton screen when an entire page or a large section is loading.
- For very short page or element loads (under 1 second) no loading indicator is needed, as it offers no real benefit.
- Keep the animation speed moderate and smooth, with a full rotation typically taking 1-2 seconds.
- Design the spinner to be on-brand; a creative or unique animation can make the wait more bearable and reinforce your brand personality.
- Always include an optional text label or message above or with the spinner to explain the delay, e.g., “Loading data…”.
- Choose a spinner size appropriate for the content being loaded: small for text labels or buttons, medium for icons, large for larger components like charts, and extra-large for large content areas
Accessibility Notes
- Don’t rely on a visual spinner alone. Include a descriptive textual message (e.g., “Loading article…”) so screen reader users know what’s happening.
- Use ARIA live regions to announce updates to screen readers when the spinner’s state changes.
- Ensure the spinner doesn’t receive focus and is not included in the keyboard’s tab order (using tabindex=”-1″).
UX progress bars are used to provide real-time visual feedback that a system is working on a user’s request, reducing uncertainty and frustration. They offer clear expectations of task completion by indicating progress in downloads, uploads, or complex, multi-step processes, and help users feel in control during perceived long waits by making the system transparent and reassuring them that progress is being made towards a goal.
Key Uses of UX Progress Bars
Indicate system status:
To show that a system has received a request and is processing it, such as loading a page or transferring a file.
Manage user expectations:
To provide an estimated time for a process, especially for tasks that take longer than 10 seconds, increasing user satisfaction.
Break down complex tasks:
To visually divide multi-step processes, like onboarding or form completion, into smaller, understandable segments, giving a sense of accomplishment as each step is completed.
Reduce perceived wait time:
By giving the user something to focus on and a sense of progress, progress bars make waiting times feel shorter and less frustrating.
Increase trust and reassurance:
To visually confirm that the system is functioning correctly and working towards the user’s desired goal.
When to Use a Progress Bar
Determinate progress:
For tasks where the percentage of completion is known (e.g., file download), providing an accurate indication of how long the operation will take.
Indeterminate progress:
For tasks where the duration is unknown, but it’s important to show that something is happening and the user needs to wait.
For actions lasting over 1 second:
To avoid distracting users with animations for very short processes.
Key Uses of UX Progress Bars
Indicate system status:
To show that a system has received a request and is processing it, such as loading a page or transferring a file.
Manage user expectations:
To provide an estimated time for a process, especially for tasks that take longer than 10 seconds, increasing user satisfaction.
Break down complex tasks:
To visually divide multi-step processes, like onboarding or form completion, into smaller, understandable segments, giving a sense of accomplishment as each step is completed.
Reduce perceived wait time:
By giving the user something to focus on and a sense of progress, progress bars make waiting times feel shorter and less frustrating.
Increase trust and reassurance:
To visually confirm that the system is functioning correctly and working towards the user’s desired goal.
When to Use a Progress Bar
Determinate progress:
For tasks where the percentage of completion is known (e.g., file download), providing an accurate indication of how long the operation will take.
Indeterminate progress:
For tasks where the duration is unknown, but it’s important to show that something is happening and the user needs to wait.
For actions lasting over 1 second:
To avoid distracting users with animations for very short processes.
When to Use a Progress Bar
Linear Processes:
Best for sequential steps like filling out a form, completing a tutorial, or uploading files.
Longer Tasks:
A progress bar is crucial for processes lasting longer than 5-10 seconds to manage user expectations.
When to Avoid a Progress Bar
Very Short Tasks:
For tasks under 5 seconds, a simple loading spinner or skeleton screen is more appropriate.
Single or Few Steps:
If a process has only a few simple steps, a progress bar may be unnecessary.
Key Design Principles
Clarity:
Use clear fonts, concise labels, and a simple design to make the progress easy to understand.
Consistency:
Maintain visual consistency in your branding, colors, and design elements throughout the progress bar and the entire application.
Visibility:
Ensure the progress bar is easily visible, even on different devices and screen sizes, by placing it in a prominent location, such as at the top of the page.
User Experience & Feedback
Accurate Progress:
Avoid misleading users with fake progress or inconsistent pacing, as it can damage trust.
Feedback:
Provide clear visual cues (like checkmarks or highlights) and textual information (like “Uploading file…”) to show what’s happening and provide a sense of accomplishment.
Manage Expectations:
Display estimated time or steps remaining to help users understand the overall effort and duration of the process.
User Control:
If possible, allow users to pause or cancel the process to provide them with a sense of autonomy.
Continuous Movement:
The progress bar should always be moving or spinning to indicate that the system is working and hasn’t frozen.
Handling Complex Processes
Break Down Tasks:
For complicated processes, divide them into smaller, more manageable steps.
Single Global Indicator:
If multiple actions are happening, display a single, overall progress bar to avoid overwhelming users with too many indicators.
Linear Processes:
Best for sequential steps like filling out a form, completing a tutorial, or uploading files.
Longer Tasks:
A progress bar is crucial for processes lasting longer than 5-10 seconds to manage user expectations.
When to Avoid a Progress Bar
Very Short Tasks:
For tasks under 5 seconds, a simple loading spinner or skeleton screen is more appropriate.
Single or Few Steps:
If a process has only a few simple steps, a progress bar may be unnecessary.
Key Design Principles
Clarity:
Use clear fonts, concise labels, and a simple design to make the progress easy to understand.
Consistency:
Maintain visual consistency in your branding, colors, and design elements throughout the progress bar and the entire application.
Visibility:
Ensure the progress bar is easily visible, even on different devices and screen sizes, by placing it in a prominent location, such as at the top of the page.
User Experience & Feedback
Accurate Progress:
Avoid misleading users with fake progress or inconsistent pacing, as it can damage trust.
Feedback:
Provide clear visual cues (like checkmarks or highlights) and textual information (like “Uploading file…”) to show what’s happening and provide a sense of accomplishment.
Manage Expectations:
Display estimated time or steps remaining to help users understand the overall effort and duration of the process.
User Control:
If possible, allow users to pause or cancel the process to provide them with a sense of autonomy.
Continuous Movement:
The progress bar should always be moving or spinning to indicate that the system is working and hasn’t frozen.
Handling Complex Processes
Break Down Tasks:
For complicated processes, divide them into smaller, more manageable steps.
Single Global Indicator:
If multiple actions are happening, display a single, overall progress bar to avoid overwhelming users with too many indicators.
Using a Progress Bar (UI) in SaaS-Types and Examples | by …Progress bars provide users with clear, reassuring feedback by visualizing task completion, estimating time, and motivating them to continue. They reduce uncertainty by showing the system is working, making long waits more bearable by giving users something to focus on. Effective progress bars should be accurate, avoid false progress, offer clarity on the number and type of steps involved, and provide helpful tips or messages to enhance the user experience.
How Progress Bars Add Value
Reassurance and Trust
: A progress bar confirms the system has received a request and is actively working to complete it, preventing users from thinking the application has frozen.
Reduced Uncertainty
: Users understand the status of a process and how long it might take, decreasing frustration and improving overall satisfaction.
Motivation
: By showing progress towards a goal, bars can motivate users to complete tasks, especially for longer processes.
Improved Perception of Time
: By dedicating cognitive resources to the progress bar, users may perceive the waiting period as shorter and less unpleasant.
Setting Expectations
: For multi-step forms or complex processes, progress bars with section titles and numbers or percentages give users a clear understanding of the journey ahead, preparing them for upcoming information or steps.
Best Practices for Effective Progress Bars
Avoid for Quick Tasks
: For tasks under five seconds, use loading spinners or skeleton screens instead of progress bars.
Provide Clear Feedback
: Include a percentage or a visual representation of progress to offer tangible evidence of progress.
Be Accurate and Honest
: Never show false progress; this erodes trust and can be frustrating for users.
Provide Contextual Information
: For longer processes, offer additional helpful messages, tips, or details about what is happening at each stage.
Break Down Complex Processes
: Divide long processes into smaller steps, each with its own clear progress indicator, to make the task feel more manageable.
Consider the Reading Direction
: In Right-to-Left (RTL) languages, the progress bar should fill from right to left to align with the natural reading direction.
How Progress Bars Add Value
Reassurance and Trust
: A progress bar confirms the system has received a request and is actively working to complete it, preventing users from thinking the application has frozen.
Reduced Uncertainty
: Users understand the status of a process and how long it might take, decreasing frustration and improving overall satisfaction.
Motivation
: By showing progress towards a goal, bars can motivate users to complete tasks, especially for longer processes.
Improved Perception of Time
: By dedicating cognitive resources to the progress bar, users may perceive the waiting period as shorter and less unpleasant.
Setting Expectations
: For multi-step forms or complex processes, progress bars with section titles and numbers or percentages give users a clear understanding of the journey ahead, preparing them for upcoming information or steps.
Best Practices for Effective Progress Bars
Avoid for Quick Tasks
: For tasks under five seconds, use loading spinners or skeleton screens instead of progress bars.
Provide Clear Feedback
: Include a percentage or a visual representation of progress to offer tangible evidence of progress.
Be Accurate and Honest
: Never show false progress; this erodes trust and can be frustrating for users.
Provide Contextual Information
: For longer processes, offer additional helpful messages, tips, or details about what is happening at each stage.
Break Down Complex Processes
: Divide long processes into smaller steps, each with its own clear progress indicator, to make the task feel more manageable.
Consider the Reading Direction
: In Right-to-Left (RTL) languages, the progress bar should fill from right to left to align with the natural reading direction.
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