Modals and toasts
These are:
- modals – sometimes called dialogs, dialogues or pop-ups
- toasts – sometimes called snackbars or toast notifications
Risks with modals
A modal prompts users to do something.
It appears on top of the main content. The user cannot interact with the main content until either:
- dismissing the modal
- carrying out an action in the modal
We advise against using modals because they can block users from accessing information or completing tasks.
You can find more about usability issues with modals on Nielsen Norman.
Risks with toasts
A toast tells the user something has happened.
It appears on top of the main content and then disappears. The user can interact with the main content even when the toast is on the screen.
We advise against using toasts because they might disappear before the user:
- notices there is a message to read
- has read and understood the message
Alternatives to modals and toasts
The Scottish Government Design System has 4 types of notification message:
- confirmation
- error
- warning
- information
You can make notification messages dismissible if needed.
Depending on your users’ needs, you could use a: