Dialog

Prompts users to take or complete an action.

When you have a simple action you want users to confirm, it can help to break them out of their main flow. Focus on the action using a dialog.

Dialogs cover any other content until the action is completed or canceled. Because they interrupt a user’s main flow, use as few as possible to minimize disruption. If you have more complex information to include, use a modal instead.

Component status

Figma

Released

Web (React)

Released

iOS (Swift)

n/a

Android (Kotlin)

n/a

Sketch

n/a

Content structure

Illustration: optionally adds visual context; title: sets the context and works best when short; description: adds more context and works best when short; primary action: sets the main action for the user to complete; secondary action: optionally sets another action to perform, usually cancelling/closing the Dialog.

Guidelines

Keep it simple

Dialogs are best as single actions where the context is clear and doesn’t need a lot of explanation. Don’t overwhelm your users with information.

# Minimize information

If more information is absolutely necessary, consider adding a text link.

A dialog with a short title and description.

A dialog with an title covering three lines and a description with three separate paragraphs.

Open on user action

Dialogs are disruptive to the main flow. Only start one after the user has taken an action so it’s clear why it was triggered.

Make action clear from title

The title should make it clear what action users are expected to take or what they’re agreeing to. Keep it short and save any details for the description.

Remove insurance?

Add a meal?

Edit passenger name

Are you sure you want to remove your insurance?

Add?

Edit passenger name for this itinerary

Allow users to close

Users want to feel in control of their actions. Since dialogs interrupt the main user flow, they can invoke negative feelings in users. Make sure users feel in control by offering them a clear option to cancel the dialog and get back to the main flow.

There are situations that all users need to complete before continuing (like accepting terms for an additional service), but it should still be possible to go back to the previous point in the flow.

# Give a cancel option

A dialog with two buttons: agree and cancel.

A dialog with only one option: agree. There is no way to close/cancel the dialog.

Warn about destructive actions

If the action related to the dialog is irreversible or removes something, use a critical button to make the consequences clear to users.

# Warn about destructive actions

A dialog with a warning in the description stating

A dialog with no description and actions as normal (even though they are destructive -- asking to remove a traveler).

Related components

Modal

Dialogs are great for displaying small bits of information to allow users to complete a single action. For anything that requires more information or structure, use a modal.

Popover

Dialogs interrupt the main user flow to focus on a single related action. If you have additional details or other interactions related to something on the current screen, use a popover. Popovers are also useful to present information that does not block other content on wide screens.