Error Prevention and Recovery

Key Concepts

• Error Prevention
• Error Recovery
• Graceful Degradation

Error Prevention

Error Prevention involves designing interfaces that minimize the likelihood of user errors. This can be achieved through clear instructions, intuitive design, and safeguards that prevent users from making mistakes. For example, a form that automatically formats phone numbers as users type helps prevent input errors.

Example: A password input field that shows a strength indicator as users type helps them create a secure password without making common mistakes like using too simple or predictable passwords.

Error Recovery

Error Recovery focuses on how users can recover from mistakes once they occur. This includes providing clear error messages, undo options, and easy ways to correct mistakes. For instance, a shopping cart that allows users to undo an accidental item removal helps them recover from the error quickly.

Example: A document editing tool that saves changes automatically and offers a "Revert to Previous Version" option allows users to recover from accidental deletions or incorrect edits.

Graceful Degradation

Graceful Degradation is the principle of designing interfaces to function even when certain features or technologies are not available. This ensures that the core functionality remains accessible, even if advanced features fail. For example, a website that still allows basic navigation and content viewing without JavaScript enabled demonstrates graceful degradation.

Example: A video streaming service that offers an audio-only option when the user's internet connection is slow ensures that users can still access content, even if they cannot stream video smoothly.