k12

Preventing errors at a glance

Site Genre: Pattern Group k

magnify imageFigure K12.1 MSN Hotmail makes it clear what kinds of information and formatting are required for creating a new account.

Background

Web sites need to be engineered for errors, minimizing the number that can occur and providing MEANINGFUL ERROR MESSAGES (K13) when they inevitably happen. This pattern focuses on minimizing the errors from a common source: online forms.

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PROBLEM

Customers will make errors and generate erroneous data when faced with online forms that have little structure, include no formatting directions, and are not designed to account for errors from the start.

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SOLUTION

magnify image Figure K12.7 Prevent errors by providing sample formatting and differentiating between required fields and optional fields.

Provide hints about what kind of text input you expect from your customers. You can do this by providing fields showing formatting, by providing sample values in the fields, or by providing explanatory text. Whenever it is simple to do so, allow flexible formatting and have the computer determine the correct format. Also make clear which fields are required and which are optional so that customers will not have to guess.

Other Patterns to Consider

No matter how well a site is designed to prevent errors, some errors will still occur. In these situations, provide MEANINGFUL ERROR MESSAGES (K13) to help people recover. Preventing errors is especially important for PPROCESS FUNNELS (H1), such as SIGN-IN/NEW ACCOUNT (H2) and QUICK-FLOW CHECKOUT (F1). Since forms are often a source for errors, see CLEAR FORMS (H10) for more on how to prevent errors on forms.

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