Designing the Date Picker
Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2025 10:49 am
The date picker should allow users to select a date quickly and intuitively. This component consists of an input field and a calendar. Let's start with design recommendations for the input field.
1. Offers flexibility
Allow users to manually enter the date in addition to using the calendar. When the user starts typing, the transition between day, month, and year should happen automatically, without any effort on effective ireland mobile numbers list the part of the user. That is why it is not recommended to split the month, day, and year into separate input fields.
2. Make it obvious that it's a date picker
Use an icon at the end of a calendar along with the field label to indicate that it is for date selection.
3. Use a conventional format
Use an intuitive and familiar date format. Consider the standards of each country you're designing for. For example, in the United States, the format is MM/DD/YYYY, while in Europe it's DD/MM/YYYY. Use an inline placeholder to inform users about the format.
4. Validate user input on the fly to avoid errors
Provide error validation and inform users when they enter impossible dates like February 31st. Avoid using generic error messages like "Incorrect date"; instead, write an error message that clearly articulates the problem.
5. Follow accessibility standards
Supports keyboard input and navigation. Allows the use of arrow keys to change dates. And allows users to copy and paste data into the input.
6. Preset the current date
If you are designing booking services, consider setting the default date to the current date to save your users time.
7. Provides clear visual feedback for selected dates
Make sure the date picker is easily visible on the screen and that users can easily identify the selected dates. Use a contrasting color to highlight the selected date.
It is worth citing the selected dates in the context of the calendar to reassure users that they have selected the correct dates.
8. Make sure users can easily navigate through months and years.
Users should be able to select the correct year, month and day quickly.
UI controls should allow users to move between next/previous months, as well as select a month/year from a different range.
9. Disable impossible dates
If a date range has restrictions, disable dates outside of these ranges. For example, if you are designing a hotel booking service, it is not necessary to leave past dates active.
10. Responsive design
The date picker should work equally well for mobile and desktop users. Make sure that the date picker is responsive and works well on different screen sizes and resolutions. This goal can be achieved by using simple UI components like the one shown below:
Conclusion
Date picker design is crucial to improving user experience on web forms or applications. By offering flexibility, visual clarity, input validation, accessibility standards, and responsive functionality, a fast and intuitive date selection is guaranteed. These principles, along with the preselection of the current date and the disabling of impossible dates, contribute to an effective and user-centered design.
1. Offers flexibility
Allow users to manually enter the date in addition to using the calendar. When the user starts typing, the transition between day, month, and year should happen automatically, without any effort on effective ireland mobile numbers list the part of the user. That is why it is not recommended to split the month, day, and year into separate input fields.
2. Make it obvious that it's a date picker
Use an icon at the end of a calendar along with the field label to indicate that it is for date selection.
3. Use a conventional format
Use an intuitive and familiar date format. Consider the standards of each country you're designing for. For example, in the United States, the format is MM/DD/YYYY, while in Europe it's DD/MM/YYYY. Use an inline placeholder to inform users about the format.
4. Validate user input on the fly to avoid errors
Provide error validation and inform users when they enter impossible dates like February 31st. Avoid using generic error messages like "Incorrect date"; instead, write an error message that clearly articulates the problem.
5. Follow accessibility standards
Supports keyboard input and navigation. Allows the use of arrow keys to change dates. And allows users to copy and paste data into the input.
6. Preset the current date
If you are designing booking services, consider setting the default date to the current date to save your users time.
7. Provides clear visual feedback for selected dates
Make sure the date picker is easily visible on the screen and that users can easily identify the selected dates. Use a contrasting color to highlight the selected date.
It is worth citing the selected dates in the context of the calendar to reassure users that they have selected the correct dates.
8. Make sure users can easily navigate through months and years.
Users should be able to select the correct year, month and day quickly.
UI controls should allow users to move between next/previous months, as well as select a month/year from a different range.
9. Disable impossible dates
If a date range has restrictions, disable dates outside of these ranges. For example, if you are designing a hotel booking service, it is not necessary to leave past dates active.
10. Responsive design
The date picker should work equally well for mobile and desktop users. Make sure that the date picker is responsive and works well on different screen sizes and resolutions. This goal can be achieved by using simple UI components like the one shown below:
Conclusion
Date picker design is crucial to improving user experience on web forms or applications. By offering flexibility, visual clarity, input validation, accessibility standards, and responsive functionality, a fast and intuitive date selection is guaranteed. These principles, along with the preselection of the current date and the disabling of impossible dates, contribute to an effective and user-centered design.