User control and freedom

A system should acknowledge that users are humans who make mistakes and change their minds. Designers should allow people to undo their last action, correct errors, and reset to the previous state.

Quickly fixing a problem gives users a sense of control and freedom and motivates them to use a product. Otherwise, users feel dissatisfied and want to leave.

There are a few UI controls that you can use in your designs to help users go back to the previous state of the system:

• The Undo/Redo button: Allows backtracking on users' last actions
• The Back button: Allows going back to a previous page or screen
• The Cancel button: Allows quitting a task
• The Close button: Allows closing a current view

Ensure the exit link or button is easily discoverable. Place it where users expect to find it, add enough contrast, and use familiar icons so users don't spend time searching for it. Hiding the exit button from users makes them feel trapped and undermines their trust in a product.^[1]