Alert
Alerts are descriptive dialogs to clearly and concisely communicate success, informational, warning, and error content.
Page sections
Types
Basic alert
Description alert
Dismissible description alert
Usage
Alerts can be used to bring attention to important changes, persistent conditions, unexpected failures or other relevant statuses.
Description alerts are generally used at a page or section level
Basic alerts are generally used inline and are more specific to the item with which it's associated
Use informational alerts to provide additional information that may help in a task or provide context, but won’t hinder completion or usability
Use warning alerts to notify the user about information that deserves caution or might hinder completing a task
Use error alerts for critical messages that communicate site status or that users need to deal with immediately in order to proceed with their task
Use success alerts to communicate completion of a task
Behavior
Alerts should be displayed within the appropriate context: at the top of the page or within the section to which they apply.
A description alert can be dismissible if the alert isn’t critical
Never make a basic alert dismissible
Visual style
Basic alert
Keep margins between adjacent basic alerts to 8px
Avoid margins less than 24px from adjacent, non-alert content
Always left align wrapped text
Never wrap text under an alert icon
Avoid changing the icon or text style
Description alert
Avoid margins less than 24px from adjacent, non-alert content
Always left align wrapped text
Never wrap text under an alert icon
Avoid changing the icon or text style
Content strategy
- Use Title Case for short (~1 – 3 word) headlines
- Use Sentence case for longer headlines written as sentences (e.g. Claims are currently unavailable)
- Provide a CTA in the form of an in-line text link when necessary
Accessibility
Characteristics
- Static Text with potential for custom content
- Rendered on page load
- Types:
- Warning – System caution indicator
- Error – System error user needs to be aware of
- Information – General information alert
- Success – Data changes saved successfully
Keyboard/focus expectations
- Typically do not receive keyboard focus
- Typically not designed to interrupt workflow
- Exception: Alert Dialog, is designed to interrupt workflow requiring user response
Screen reader expectations
- Alert type is announced. Ex. “Warning! Claims made within the past 48 hours may not be visible at this time.”
- Alert message must be announced. Ex. “Error! Network cannot be reached.”