No. 035
UI Design
Error State
An error state is what the interface shows when something goes wrong — invalid input, a failed action, or a missing page.
Why it matters
Errors are inevitable. How a product handles them — with clarity and help, or with blame and jargon — shapes how much users trust it.
In depth
Effective error states explain what happened in plain language, avoid blaming the user, and offer a clear way to recover. Placing the message near the source of the problem and preventing errors in the first place are both part of good error handling.
Real-world example
Instead of 'Error 422', a good form says 'That email looks incomplete — did you mean name@example.com?' next to the field.
Related terms