Message Dialog

Design a message dialog when you want to communicate to the user about a situation that is unexpected or exceptional with regard to a task they are doing. Use message dialog boxes only when a message is important enough that the user must know immediately.

Message Dialog guidelines

From the user’s perspective, the following are qualities of a well-designed message dialog page:

  • Is used only with regard to unexpected or exceptional situations, not for ordinary or routine dialog.

  • Presents a clear message in the user’s language and that the user finds valuable.

  • Has an icon associated to the message signaling the type of message, either information, error, warning, or confirmation.

  • Includes details only as required to understand the context for the message.

  • Provides one or more dismiss buttons with captions that unambiguously describes the function of each button.

Example of a Message Dialog

Message dialog notifying about lack of inventory

See Also

Concepts

Task Dialog
Lookup Dialog
Wizard Dialog