Element states
Element states describe the visual and functional variations of UI components across interactions, ensuring consistency, and feedback in digital products.
Element states represent the different appearances and behaviors of user interface components depending on user interaction or system status. Common states include default, hover, active, disabled, and error. Designing these states thoughtfully provides users with feedback that reinforces control and clarity within a product.
For UX and UI designers, element states act as signposts guiding user actions. A button that changes color when hovered or clicked reassures users that their input is registered. Without such feedback, users may repeat actions, leading to errors or frustration.
In product management, element states play a role in defining functional requirements and consistency across a platform. Product managers ensure that design teams and developers align on state definitions so that every button, form field, or navigation item responds predictably. This consistency reduces user confusion and simplifies development.
Accessibility also intersects with element states. Disabled elements must be visually distinct but not so faint that they exclude users with vision impairments. Error states should use clear, descriptive messages alongside visual indicators. Following accessibility standards ensures that all states are perceivable and usable.
Real-world examples emphasize their value. Google’s Material Design library includes extensive guidelines for element states, ensuring that buttons, toggles, and forms communicate effectively across devices. E-commerce websites like Shopify use clear states for checkout buttons, reducing errors in critical flows and improving conversion rates.
When teams fail to design clear states, products suffer from usability issues. Users may abandon tasks if they cannot tell whether an action succeeded or why a field failed validation. Well-defined states improve trust and flow within digital experiences.
Learn more about this in the UI Component States Lesson, a part of the UI Components I Course.
Key Takeaways
- Element states represent component behavior across interactions.
- Clear states provide feedback and improve user confidence.
- Product managers ensure consistency across platforms and teams.
- Accessibility requires thoughtful contrast and messaging in states.
- Real-world platforms rely on states to improve conversions.
Recommended resources
Courses
UX Design Foundations
Design Terminology
UI Components I
Color Psychology
Common Design Patterns
Accessibility Foundations
Wireframing
UI Components II
UX Writing
Design Composition
Mobile Design
Typography
UX Design Patterns with Checklist Design
HTML Foundations
Enhancing UX Workflow with AI
CSS Foundations
Introduction to Figma
3D Design Foundations
Information Architecture
Apple Human Interface Guidelines
Introduction to Design Audits
Lessons
UI Component States
Empty States
Activity Feeds
UI Accordions: Basics & Best Practices
Submitting a Form
Exercises
Projects
New Interactive Empty State Version with Rive!
Accessible Sign-Up Form for Evolve Storefront
Button Design System
Bookly - Onboarding Assignment
Imagine: Checkout Page for E-Commerce Platform
FAQs
Element states provide users with immediate feedback, confirming whether actions are registered or restricted. Without them, interactions feel unresponsive, creating uncertainty. Feedback through states builds trust and smooth user flow.
Teams often test states during usability studies to confirm clarity. Effective states reduce repetitive actions and prevent frustration, directly improving satisfaction.
States such as error or disabled need to combine visual and textual cues. A red border around a text field may signal an error, but without accompanying text, it excludes color-blind users. Clear, multi-sensory feedback ensures inclusivity.
Accessible states improve compliance with WCAG standards, ensuring products work for all users. These considerations are essential for enterprise or government products, where accessibility compliance is non-negotiable.
Design tools like Figma and Adobe XD allow teams to build interactive prototypes with multiple states. These tools help designers simulate hover, active, and error conditions before development.
Prototyping with states helps align design, product, and engineering teams early, reducing costly changes later in the workflow. Interactive previews also improve stakeholder buy-in by showing how states enhance the user journey.