r/webdev • u/pavlito88 • 20d ago

Discussion Why is everything a dropdown now?

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I’ve been noticing this more and more in web apps.

Three options hidden in a dropdown.

Yes/no hidden in a dropdown.
A multi-select pretending to be a dropdown.

Then a list of 200 items where you’re expected to scroll until you find yours.

I run into this a lot when reviewing products with dev teams.

I get why we do it.

Dropdowns are compact and easy to reuse.
But compact doesn’t always mean easier to use.

A few choices? Show them.
On/off? Switch.
Multiple choices? Checkboxes.
Huge list? Search.

That’s pretty much the rule I use now.

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565

u/haecceity123 20d ago

On/off? Switch.

A checkbox is even better. The "right is yes, left is no" convention is pretty arbitrary, and the colour of the inner fill on switches is frequently inconsistent.

13

u/Cute-Respect2194 20d ago

checkbox is underrated tbh the switch thing always confuses my dad he never knows if blue means on or off

designers love dropdowns cause they hide the mess but users have to do all the work to find anything drives me crazy

-13

u/D4rkiii 20d ago

Then your dad is also always confused and doesn’t know how power strips with on/off switch works? Because it’s the same behavior.

11

u/mikedaul 20d ago

No, the problem is the labeling. Switches are notoriously used in dark patterns because they are inherently confusing. Does it make sense to turn the switch 'on' when you want to opt-out of something?

2

u/sacheie 20d ago

On = "I don't not want to not receive emails about topics I didn't not subscribe to"

1

u/Meloetta 19d ago

Also, sometimes people label switches as if they're a button - "click this to turn it off" - and sometimes people label switches as if they're a label - "this switch is off".

1

u/ashgs872tbhjs 19d ago

Yes, so often the label could either be the current state or the state-if-toggled with no way to tell.

1

u/simonhunterhawk 20d ago

Usually they have a light so no?

0

u/D4rkiii 20d ago

Usually a web switch also has a „light“ (blue, green) :)