The confirmation design pattern isn’t something to be taken lightly. If employed erroneously, or not at all, users may commit unintended havoc. This article shares guidelines and best practices for designing effective confirmations.

Confirmations ask a user to verify whether they want to proceed or cancel a requested action. Confirmations are often used for destructive actions, like deleting a photo album, or consequential actions, like publishing this article.

Medium presents a tool-tip for users to confirm their desire to publish an article.

Confirmations aren’t always needed, and can actually increase mistakes. If a user is bombarded with confirmation for every action, they will disregard it. Confirmations shouldn’t be used for actions that are easily reversed or inconsequential.

Good practice:

Present the action as a question in the header

2. Explain the outcome of the action in the body

3. Restate the action in the confirmation button