Progressive disclosure design in forms

Progressive Disclosure is a design technique where only essential information or options are initially displayed, and additional details are revealed as needed. This approach aims to reduce cognitive overload, improve user experience, and enhance the clarity of forms by showing only the necessary content at each step. When applied to forms, progressive disclosure ensures that users aren’t overwhelmed by a long list of fields but can progressively explore and fill out the form as they go.

In Power Pages (or any web application), progressive disclosure in forms helps in guiding the user through a smooth, streamlined process, revealing only relevant sections of the form as they progress. This can be particularly useful for complex forms that require a step-by-step approach or for situations where different fields are only applicable based on user choices.

Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how to implement progressive disclosure design in forms:

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Step 1: Identify Form Complexity

Before implementing progressive disclosure, evaluate the complexity of the form. Forms can range from simple registration forms to multi-step processes like survey forms, application forms, or checkout forms. If your form is too long or contains multiple sections, progressive disclosure can improve user experience by reducing clutter and focusing the user’s attention.

Example:

• Simple form: Name, email, and address fields.
• Complex form: Contact information, shipping details, payment methods, and confirmation steps.

In complex forms, break down the fields into logical sections and decide which sections can be hidden initially and revealed when necessary.

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Step 2: Use Conditional Logic for Field Visibility

Conditional logic determines the fields that should be visible or hidden based on the user’s previous actions or selections. For example, showing additional form fields based on the user’s choices.

Example Scenario:

In a registration form, if a user selects “Yes” to the question “Do you have a membership?”, additional fields asking for membership details can appear. If the user selects “No”, those fields remain hidden.

You can implement this functionality in Power Pages using Liquid templates or JavaScript (for custom forms).

Liquid Example:

Using Liquid, you can conditionally show form fields based on the value of previous inputs.

{% if request.query.has_membership == "yes" %}
  <!-- Show membership fields -->
  <div class="membership-details">
    <label for="membership-id">Membership ID</label>
    <input type="text" id="membership-id" name="membership-id" />
  </div>
{% endif %}

JavaScript Example:

Using JavaScript, you can hide or show fields based on the value of a dropdown or radio button:

document.getElementById('membership-choice').addEventListener('change', function() {
    if (this.value === 'yes') {
        document.getElementById('membership-fields').style.display = 'block';
    } else {
        document.getElementById('membership-fields').style.display = 'none';
    }
});

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Step 3: Implement Multi-Step Forms

Multi-step forms break up the content into sections, each step addressing one part of the form. This approach is excellent for large, complex forms and allows users to focus on one task at a time.

You can implement multi-step forms by progressively showing one section at a time, making sure that each form step is clearly defined and intuitive.

Example:

1. Step 1: Personal Information (name, email)
2. Step 2: Address Information (street address, city, country)
3. Step 3: Payment Information (credit card details)

Each step should have a Next button to guide users forward and a Back button to allow users to return to the previous step.

Implementation Example:

A simple multi-step form could be achieved with JavaScript to control the visibility of each section.

<form id="multi-step-form">
  <div class="step" id="step1">
    <label for="name">Name:</label>
    <input type="text" id="name" name="name" />
    <button type="button" onclick="nextStep(1)">Next</button>
  </div>

  <div class="step" id="step2" style="display:none;">
    <label for="address">Address:</label>
    <input type="text" id="address" name="address" />
    <button type="button" onclick="nextStep(2)">Next</button>
    <button type="button" onclick="prevStep(2)">Back</button>
  </div>

  <div class="step" id="step3" style="display:none;">
    <label for="payment">Payment:</label>
    <input type="text" id="payment" name="payment" />
    <button type="submit">Submit</button>
    <button type="button" onclick="prevStep(3)">Back</button>
  </div>
</form>

<script>
function nextStep(step) {
  document.getElementById('step' + step).style.display = 'none';
  document.getElementById('step' + (step + 1)).style.display = 'block';
}

function prevStep(step) {
  document.getElementById('step' + step).style.display = 'none';
  document.getElementById('step' + (step - 1)).style.display = 'block';
}
</script>

Explanation:

• Each section (step1, step2, step3) is initially hidden using style="display:none;".
• The nextStep() and prevStep() functions control the display of the steps.
• This creates a simple multi-step form where each section is progressively revealed as the user advances.

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Step 4: Provide Visual Feedback

When using progressive disclosure, it is essential to provide clear visual feedback to users about their progress. A progress bar or indicator that shows how many steps are completed and how many are remaining can be helpful.

Example of a Progress Bar:

<div id="progress-bar">
  <div id="progress" style="width: 33%;"></div>
</div>

In your form, you could update the width of the #progress div to reflect the user’s current step.

function nextStep(step) {
  document.getElementById('step' + step).style.display = 'none';
  document.getElementById('step' + (step + 1)).style.display = 'block';
  
  let progress = (step + 1) * 33;  // Assuming 3 steps
  document.getElementById('progress').style.width = progress + '%';
}

This gives users a clear indication of how far along they are in the form.

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Step 5: Handle Error and Validation Messages

Progressive disclosure also involves displaying only the relevant validation messages when necessary. When showing more complex sections or fields, ensure that errors or required fields are highlighted when the user reaches that part of the form.

• Display validation messages directly beneath the relevant field.
• Use tooltips, inline hints, or highlight the required fields.

Example:

function validateStep1() {
  let name = document.getElementById('name').value;
  if (name === "") {
    document.getElementById('name-error').style.display = 'block';
  } else {
    document.getElementById('name-error').style.display = 'none';
  }
}

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Step 6: Optimize for Mobile Devices

When implementing progressive disclosure in forms, especially for multi-step forms, make sure the design is optimized for mobile devices. Mobile users may find it difficult to scroll through long forms, so a step-by-step approach with visible indicators can help them track their progress.

• Use responsive design techniques to ensure the form looks great on any device.
• Consider using accordion-style designs for smaller screens to reveal additional options when clicked.