Alerts
Alerts notify merchants of important system information, and provide feedback on merchant actions.
Task alerts
Task alerts are initiated in response to merchant actions during a specific task. Task alerts give merchants direct and immediate feedback.
The following are examples of task alerts:
- A form is successfully submitted.
- A problem uploading something.
- The information provided is incorrect or doesn’t match the requested format.
System alerts
System alerts are initiated by the application or system, independent of merchant actions. System alerts provide updates on background system status or out-of-context events that have finished.
The following are examples of system alerts:
- Lost network connection.
- A planned upgrade.
- The app subscription is expiring soon.
Alert patterns
Anchor link to section titled "Alert patterns"- Banner (system alert)
- Inline (task alert)
- Toast (task alert)
The following are common patterns available for merchant alerts:
| Pattern | Definition | Duration and interaction | Used to communicate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banner | Page-level alerts, often system related or Contextual alerts that are specific to a card, section, or modal |
Banners persist until dismissed by the merchant and can include an action button or link. | |
| Inline | Provides merchants with feedback that’s as close to the source as possible | Inline alerts persist until the message is resolved by the merchant. | |
| Toast | Short, temporary messages that slide in and out of a page and provide succinct information. | Toast alerts without actions can disappear automatically or can be dismissed by the merchant. | Success |
Information
Anchor link to section titled "Information"When you use alerts to communicate important information to merchants, you can choose from a few standard patterns.
Default banner
Anchor link to section titled "Default banner"Use a default banner when you want to convey general information or actions that aren’t critical.
Mandatory
Default banners should be gray and contain only lower priority information that’s always dismissible.Informational banner
Anchor to section titled "Informational banner"
Mandatory
Make informational banners blue and always make them dismissible.When you’re communicating success, it’s important to provide feedback. That means using patterns that inform merchants when a task has been completed successfully.
Toasts inform merchants of a process that the app has performed or will perform. Toasts display temporarily, at the bottom of the interface. Toasts don’t require any merchant input to disappear, and they shouldn’t interrupt the merchant experience.
Mandatory
Display toasts in the bottom center of your app screen.
Mandatory
Use toasts for only short messages that confirm an action.
Mandatory
Make toast messages three words or less.
Mandatory
Toasts are only for non-critical messages that are relevant at the moment.
Caution
Avoid using toasts for error messages. Instead use a banner to prominently inform merchants about persistent errors.Success banners
Anchor link to section titled "Success banner">/span>
Mandatory
Make success banners green and include next steps, if applicable.
Unacceptable
Don’t use banners to show success messages for actions that merchants have completed. For user-initiated feedback, use success toasts instead.
Unacceptable
Don’t use success banners if there isn’t a CTA.When you’re communicating warnings to merchants, you have different options based on what’s causing the warning.
Warning banners
Anchor link to section titled "Warning banners"Use warning banners to display information that needs attention or that merchants need to take action on.
Mandatory
Make warning banners yellow. Seeing these banners can be stressful for merchants, so use them intentionally.Inline warning in a list
Anchor to section titled "Inline warning in a list"
Mandatory
Use inline warnings to draw attention to exceptions in a list, and encourage action when possible.
Unacceptable
Don’t use only color to convey a warning. Pair warning messages with a warning icon. This increases accessibility by providing additional identifiers.When you’re communicating problems and errors, use recognizable patterns that inform merchants of the alert’s significance. Put error messages as close to the problem as possible.
Error messages are necessary when something isn’t working as expected, or when merchants should be alerted to critical disruptions.
When errors happen, they can be frustrating or even scary. Guide merchants to a solution clearly and quickly.
Mandatory
Always tell merchants what happened and offer a path forward.
Unacceptable
Avoid scary language, technical terms, and jargon.
Unacceptable
Avoid humor, idioms, or other words and phrases that might not translate correctly.Critical banners
Anchor to section titled "Critical banners"
Mandatory
Make critical banners red and use them sparingly.
Mandatory
Provide troubleshooting steps and a clear way to get support.Inline errors in forms
Anchor link to section titled "Inline errors in forms"When you’re validating form fields like text fields, place the error message directly below the affected field.
Use red for error message text, because it’s a common convention outside of Shopify.
Mandatory
Place error messages directly below the affected field.
Unacceptable
Don’t show an error while merchants are typing, because it can cause confusion. Wait until the keyboard focus moves away from the field, and then display the error.Inline errors in lists
Anchor link to section titled "Inline errors in lists"
Mandatory
Highlight an exceptional state that encourages clicking on a list item. Lead with what went wrong.
Unacceptable
Don’t use only color to convey an error. Instead, pair the error message with an error icon. This increases accessibility by providing additional identifiers.Errors in cards, sections, or modals
Anchor link to section titled "Errors in cards, sections, or modals"
Unacceptable
Don’t nest error messages too deeply within your app’s hierarchy. If the error applies more broadly, then place it at the top of the affected element.
