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Tooltips

When designing an application—especially one with a rich user interface—every element matters. From buttons and icons to displayed data fields, your users rely on clarity and guidance to navigate your app with confidence. One often overlooked feature that can make a major difference in user experience is the tooltip. When used consistently, tooltips help users understand complex features without overwhelming them with on-screen text, keeping the interface clean while still being informative.

The power of tooltips​

Tooltips are small, hover- or tap-activated text boxes that provide context or brief instructions related to a specific element on the screen. They’re incredibly effective in increasing the cohesiveness and usability of your app by reducing ambiguity and eliminating the need for guesswork.

Tooltips can:

  • Explain non-obvious functionality.
  • Define unfamiliar terms.
  • Offer quick tips or usage suggestions.
  • Clarify icon meanings without cluttering the interface.

Keep them short and sweet​

When implementing tooltips, brevity is key. The goal is to inform users without overwhelming them. A good tooltip is:

  • Concise (ideally under 10 words).
  • Clear and direct.
  • Relevant only to the element it's attached to.

Avoid turning your tooltips into mini help articles—they're meant for quick guidance, not deep dives.