How to Use Labels the Right Way on a Website

A web designer found the work of another and wanted to share it. The blog post showed how labels are a last resort when it comes to accessibility. When showing information to a user, this designer argues that it is easy to resort to a naive label: value format. This person's belief is that such a naive label: value format makes it difficult to demonstrate any sort of hierarchy to the information. The designer added that in a lot of cases, no label is needed at all.

This argument goes along the lines that a lot of the time, the data can just speak for itself. When a format is not enough information, the context of the information often is enough to explain it. Data without labels often results in a more clear user interface. The designer used an example of inventory in an eCommerce site. Instead of using a label such as "In Stock: 5," the owner of such as site could instead use, "5 Left in Stock."

Combining labels and values in a single unit adds clarity to the information. The designer does concede that labels can be necessary. One example is in an electronic medical record that might have some similar values. Heart rate and oxygenation might have similar numbers. A designer needs to keep in mind that the labels on such interfaces should be secondary. They could be accompanied by a graphic that conveys just as much information as the text label does. The information in the label should be emphasized with less contrast, a smaller size or a lighter font style. All three of these methods could be used at once.

There are a few times when a label should be emphasized. One is when is when the user will be looking for the label, such as on the technical specifications for a product. A darker color for the label and a lighter shade of the same color would be enough emphasis in this case. Most web designers agree with these points when the post was shared in a community of people who design websites. For more information click here https://refactoringui.com/previews/labels-are-a-last-resort/.