The on-screen keyboard is the primary input mechanism on mobile devices. A designer’s job is to make the typing experience as effortless as possible for users.

When designing keyboards for an app, try answering the following questions:

• Does the interaction require a keyboard or can you use other controls (radio buttons, picklists, etc.) instead?
• What type of keyboard should you use (default, numeric, or custom)?
• What actions trigger and dismiss the keyboard?
• Will the keyboard block any items from view?
• Should the keyboard leverage autocomplete or predictive text? (For example, in a language learning app like Duolingo, predictive text can make learning less efficient).^[1]