Itqualityassurance
- What can I use instead of radio buttons?
- Should radio buttons be preselected?
- Under what circumstances is a menu used instead of a radio button group?
- Should radio buttons be horizontal or vertical?
What can I use instead of radio buttons?
The alternatives to radio buttons are checkboxes and drop down boxes. Use them over the alternatives when: One answer must be selected.
Should radio buttons be preselected?
Always Offer a Default Selection
One of the 10 heuristics of UI design says that users should be able to undo (and redo) their actions. This means enabling people to set a UI control back to its original state. In case of radio buttons this means that radio buttons should always have exactly one option pre-selected.
Under what circumstances is a menu used instead of a radio button group?
Rule#1: When You Want to Emphasize Options
You want the user to read all options. The options are unfamiliar to the user and there is less or no chance that he can predict them.
Should radio buttons be horizontal or vertical?
Vertical positioning of radio buttons is safer. Radio buttons are tiny in nature, and, thus, according to Fitts' law, they can be hard to click or tap. To enlarge the target area, let users select an option by clicking or tapping not just that button, but also the label or associated words.
