Patterns
Notifications and feedback
When to use a toast, snackbar, inline alert, banner, dialog or notification list, and the rules that keep feedback accessible.
Feedback should be as quiet as the situation allows. Choose the lightest component that the person will still notice.
Choosing
| Situation | Use |
|---|---|
| An action succeeded in the background | Toast (Snackbar on Android), a few seconds, optional Undo |
| Something about this section needs attention | Inline alert next to the content it concerns |
| Something affects the whole product | Banner at the top of the page |
| A decision is required before continuing | Dialog; for destructive actions, an alert dialog |
| Activity from other people or systems | Notification list behind a bell, with unread state |
Rules
- Never put essential information only in a toast: it disappears and can be missed.
- Errors that block a task stay on screen until resolved.
- Status is never conveyed by colour alone: pair it with an icon and text.
- Toasts and snackbars are announced politely to assistive technology; errors are announced immediately.
- Push notifications on mobile are a product decision and need the person’s permission; Stance styles in-app feedback only.