Nielsen heuristic · Nielsen's Heuristics
User control & freedom
Give people a clear way to undo, cancel or go back when they make a mistake.
See it
Spot the problem
Why it matters
Users make mistakes and need an 'emergency exit'. Add confirmation for destructive actions, and ideally undo or a trash bin.
How to apply it
- Offer undo for deletes and bulk actions
- Confirm destructive actions and say exactly what will be lost
- Let people cancel long processes
Common mistakes
- Permanent actions on a single click
- Flows with no way back
Quick answers
What is User control & freedom in Nielsen's heuristics?
Give people a clear way to undo, cancel or go back when they make a mistake. Users make mistakes and need an 'emergency exit'. Add confirmation for destructive actions, and ideally undo or a trash bin.
How do I apply User control & freedom in UI design?
Offer undo for deletes and bulk actions. Confirm destructive actions and say exactly what will be lost. Let people cancel long processes.
What are common mistakes with User control & freedom?
Permanent actions on a single click. Flows with no way back.