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Chapter 6. Drilldown > When to Use Links, Buttons, and Icons
6.5. When to Use Links, Buttons, and Icons
Knowing when to use these types of drilldown widgets can be challenging to understand. Use this chart as a reference to guide you in that process.
| Pattern | When to use it | |
|---|---|---|
| Link | Use a link when a new page of related content must be loaded.
Use a link to jump to additional content within the current page. Use a link to open a Pop-Up dialog containing relevant content. | |
| Button | Use a button to initiate an immediate action. | |
| Standalone | Use a standalone button to initiate an immediate action without additional user input. | |
| In-conjunction | Use in-conjunction buttons with other user inputs or controls (radio buttons, spinners, checkboxes, etc.) to commit these user selections. | |
| Delayed input | Use a delayed input button to interrupt the submission to request additional user data. A modal Pop-Up dialog will likely be used to retrieve this information. | |
| Indicator | Use an indicator to initiate actions of linking, commit actions, and state changes. Use an indicator to visually describe the type of activity that will occur when initiated. | |
| Content beyond | Use a content beyond indicator to visually explain what type of content will be loaded if the link is followed. This is typically an icon in front of the text label. | |
| Type of action | Use a type of action indicator to describe the type of activity that will occur when the link is selected. For example, a “Refresh” label can be accompanied by a revolving refresh icon. | |
| Manner of action | Use a manner of action indicator to describe the way the action will be carried out. The icon should indicate that the action may go forward or backward in the process, opens a pop up, or performs some other type of action. | |
| Icon | Use an icon to provide access to disparate items or functions, in a glanceable manner. | |
| Fixed | Use a fixed icon to clearly explain, within the image, its function or target destination. | |
| Status | Use a status icon to indicate a change with the current condition. This may be an external change such as the current weather, a system change such as inbound messages, or a user-initiated state change such as switching from scroll to select mode. | |
| Interactive | Use an interactive icon to carry out a behavior directly, such as enabling WiFi. This icon does not provide immediate access to any target application, site, or information. | |
| Stack of Items | Use a stack of items when information can be represented as thumbnail graphics, and all items in the group appear in a virtual stack which can be shuffled or expanded. | |
| Annotation | Use annotation when more information should be presented for an item in focus, such as a pinpoint on a map or chart. An annotation is smarter than a tooltip, and may offer links or actions. | |
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