Inline message
An inline message tells users when important information is available or when they need to act.
When to use
- Details about one field or row that would crowd the layout if always visible.
- An explanation most people do not need, but some will look for.
- A warning tied to a single value, such as a setting that conflicts with another.
When not to use
- Anything people must read. If it is hidden behind an icon, most people will not see it.
- A validation error. Show it under the field.
- A message about a whole section. Use a section message.
- Help text that is always relevant. Put it on the page.
Guidance
Do
Use it to answer a question only some people will ask. Use the secondary text to hint at what is inside.
Don't
Do not hide an error behind an icon. Anything that blocks people must be visible without them looking for it.
Content
What to write, and what to leave out.
- The secondary text is a hint, not a label. Why? works. Information does not.
- Answer the question directly. People who open it want the answer.
- Keep it to a couple of sentences. Put anything longer on its own page.