In modern UI design, you can find components like Tags, Badges, and Labels. They serve different functions and purposes, but most of the time, we don’t have a clear understanding of when to use each one or what criteria to follow when selecting the appropriate component for a specific feature.
Often, we make vague assumptions like, "Oh, I think this should be called a Tag," or "This part seems like a Label." But are there any fundamental use cases that can help us determine the right component more accurately?
Tags
Tags are typically used for categorizing and labeling content to help users with search and filtering. For example, on an e-commerce website, tags are used on product pages to indicate product attributes such as "New," "Best Seller, or "On Sale." Similarly, in blogs, tags are often used to categorize articles.
Function
- Category Tags
are tools used to categorize and label articles. Each article can have one or more tags, which can represent the article's topic, content type, or other relevant information.
For example, an article about UI design might have the following tags:
UI Design User Experience Design Trends
- Search and Filter
Tags help users quickly find and filter content that interests them. Users can enter specific tags in a blog platform's search bar to locate related articles. For instance, entering "UI Design" will display all articles tagged with that term.
- Increase Article Discoverability
Well-chosen tags boost an article's visibility. When readers click a tag, they're taken to a page showing all articles with that same tag—making it easy to discover related content.
- Improve SEO
Tags play a crucial role in SEO (Search Engine Optimization). Using them effectively helps search engines understand and index blog articles better, potentially improving their search result rankings.
Visual Presentation
Tags are usually text with a subtle background color, typically in the shape of a rectangle or a slightly rounded rectangle. For example, a tag labeled "Special Offer" might have a red background, white text, and a rectangular shape, placed in the corner of a product image.
Practical Applications
- E-commerce Websites: Tags like "New Arrival," "Best Seller," and "Limited Edition" are used on product pages to categorize items, helping users quickly find what they need.
- Blog : Tags at the bottom of articles categorize topics such as "Technology," "Design," and "Lifestyle," making it easier for users to filter and search for content.
Tags
Badges are UI elements used to display status messages or counts. They are often designed to grab users' attention and remind them of important information that requires action.For example, Facebook and Instagram frequently display a red badge on their message icons, indicating the number of unread messages.
Visual Presentation
Badges are designed to be simple yet visually striking to ensure they stand out in the interface. Here are some common design characteristics:
- Shape: Typically circular or oval, though other shapes may be used to match specific design styles.
- Color: Bright and attention-grabbing colors like red, yellow, or green are commonly used.
- Content: Usually contains a short number, icon, or text. Numbers often indicate unread messages, while icons represent specific statuses or actions.
Practical Applications
- Notification Count: Displays the number of unread messages, pending requests, or other items requiring user attention.
- Status Indicator: Shows real-time user status, task completion progress, or other important updates.
- New Feature Alerts: Notifies users about app updates or newly introduced features, encouraging them to explore fresh functionalities.
Labels
Labels are primarily used to mark form controls or introduce data sections, helping users understand the information in a specific area or correctly fill out a form. These labels are usually plain text, providing key information to guide user actions.In a user registration form, each input field is accompanied by a label indicating its purpose, such as:
- "Name" for entering the user's full name
- "Email" for providing an email address
- "Password" for setting a secure password
Visual Presentation
Labels are usually simple and clear text placed near the relevant controls. They should be consistent with surrounding UI elements and easy to read and understand. Common visual design practices include:
- Position: Placed above, to the left of, or inside the input field (as a placeholder).
- Font: Choose a readable font, usually with a smaller size but contrasting with the background for visibility.
- Style: Keep it minimalistic and avoid exces
Honestly, Labels have always been the most confusing for me because many UI kits I’ve used include Labels but not Tags. However, when I asked ChatGPT about it from a programming perspective, the difference became much clearer.
HTML Elements:
- Labels use the
<label>element and are associated with form functionalities like<input>. - Tags are typically implemented using
<span>or<div>elements and styled with CSS for appearance.
Practical Applications
- User Registration Forms: Labels are placed above or to the left of input fields to guide users in entering the correct information.
- E-commerce Product Pages: Labels indicate key product attributes such as color, size, and price.
- User Settings Pages: Labels help users understand the function of each setting option.
- Data Dashboards: Labels mark different data sections, allowing users to quickly interpret the information.
Conclusion
In UI design, properly distinguishing and using Tags, Badges, and Labels is essential for enhancing the user experience.
Designers need to understand the distinct functions and use cases of these three elements while maintaining visual consistency and focusing on user needs. By making the right design decisions, we can create more structured and readable interfaces that help users navigate, interact, and understand information more efficiently.
Explore more
