Interface elements

In this topic, you will learn about the interface elements used to create applications and services. There are many different types, each with its own characteristics and purpose. Unsurprisingly, some elements are much more popular than others. But it still makes sense to familiarize yourself with a wide range, as this will help you develop convenient and functional services.

What’s on your screen?

What do you see when you open one of the apps that you use daily? Do you see two buttons and a text field? Or maybe a grid layout without labels, but with pictures inside and several scrollable containers with filters? Of course not. When you open your favorite food delivery app, you most likely see different types of menus (Asian, Italian, fast food, street food), as well as dishes, prices, discounts, and promotions.

You nearly always make a conscious choice from the available options, enter the delivery address, and pay for the order. But you are also unconsciously controlling the application interface by completing the input fields, pressing different buttons, skipping unnecessary checkboxes, and so on.

Why can we understand how to use a newly downloaded application so quickly? Why don't we take training courses and read the instructions when registering for a new social network or messenger?

Users can adapt to new applications quickly because many of their functions are the same as ones they've encountered before. So, the creativity you apply when developing a service shouldn't interfere with the user experience people anticipate. When this is a concern, a great way to reduce cognitive load is to add several welcome windows to your application. These can be used to show simple animations that demonstrate how to change the application's parameters and where to click to perform different actions.

Interface element types

It's important to understand some key points before looking at specific examples of interface elements:

1. There's no single/universal and "correct" classification of all interface elements, but there are "generally accepted standards."

2. Most software platforms provide their own set of elements for developers to use when building applications (for example, there is an iOS UI kit and an Android UI kit).

3. You can devise your own screen elements, but they will probably just be a different version of an existing component.

4. It's worth remembering that clever design and uniqueness can be really cool, but if the user doesn't understand how to use your service, all that creativity will be in vain.

The number of elements you use and how you combine them heavily depends on the type and complexity of the application you are developing. However, there are a few standard elements that interfaces cannot do without:

• Buttons (any shape, with or without icons/labels)

• Navigation (transitions between screens)

• Input fields for text/numbers (a search bar, for example)

It's simple, really. Interfaces must enable interaction, which can't be achieved without the most basic of elements — a button. Navigation allows a user to move through a screen or a group of screens, whereas input fields can provide a more complex set of choices.

An example of the classification of interface elements can be found on usability.gov. They suggest four groups:

1. Input Controls — elements that allow the user to enter or input some information.

2. Navigational Components — elements that show precisely where you are in the application's structure or allow you to move in different directions.

3. Informational Components — elements that show the status or information, such as when the user needs to make a decision.

4. Containers — elements that group information by various attributes.

Intuitive interfaces

You need to keep in mind that different elements come with "expectations" about how they should work. For example, most users know that checkboxes are square and allow them to select several answer options. On the other hand, radio buttons force people to make a single choice from the available alternatives and are usually round. Of course, many users don't know their titles or types, but the experience of using similar elements between different applications creates expectations. This should be considered when producing your design.

It's a good idea to get acquainted with different interface elements before you start designing an app. It can also be very helpful to analyze a couple of applications you use every day or ones similar to the app you're planning to develop. Doing this will enable you to understand how people are used to performing a particular task. Things like when it's more convenient for users to enter information with a "slider" and then click "next." Or where it is easier for them simply to fill in a text input field to continue working.

Bonus: common UI kits

As mentioned earlier, software platforms often release their own set of standard elements that are very convenient to use when designing your apps. There's no need to invent components from scratch. It's really easy for developers who write application code to program an interface consisting of standard elements that just have style changes.

The examples shown below are probably the two most common UI kits in the development world. They are Material You for Android (the latest version of Material Design at the time of writing) and a set of elements for the iOS operating system.

Android Material Design kit:

https://material.io or https://materialdesignkit.com/android-gui/

iOS UI kit:

https://developer.apple.com/design/resources/

Conclusion

Learning the basics in any field helps you to progress more quickly. By looking at the key element types and analyzing several applications, you can avoid mistakes when developing your own service. Try to develop applications as consciously as you choose what to order to eat after a hard day's work on your favorite app! Today you have learned that:

• Interface elements are a crucial part of any application or service.

• Elements have lots of different names and classifications, but many are common across development environments.

• The basic elements needed to make interactive apps are buttons, navigation, and input fields.

• Being familiar with a wide variety of elements makes it easier to create high-quality interfaces.

• Users apply their previous experiences to all future interfaces. So, the most common functions in your applications should be consistent with other services. Otherwise, users will get confused and won't be able to use your apps.

• If you do decide to create a new approach to performing tasks with well-known elements, make sure you explain it by adding a small visual introduction to the application.

• When developing an application, it's sensible to utilize the UI kit provided by the software platform you're using.