UI Elements Explained: Buttons, Forms, and Inputs
TL;DR:
- UI elements like buttons, forms, and inputs are essential for guiding users and converting visitors into customers
- Modern website builders make adding these elements straightforward with drag-and-drop functionality
- Customisation options let you adjust colours, sizes, styles, and behaviours to match your brand
- Keep forms simple and buttons action-focused to maximise user engagement and completion rates
UI elements are the building blocks that make websites interactive and functional. Without them, your site would be a static brochure that users can look at but never engage with.
Why UI Elements Matter
Buttons, forms, and inputs do the heavy lifting when it comes to user interaction. They guide visitors through your site, collect important information, and turn browsers into buyers.
Think of them as the steering wheel, pedals, and gear stick of your website. Users need these controls to navigate effectively and complete the actions you want them to take.
Working with Buttons
Buttons are your call-to-action workhorses. They tell users what to do next and make it easy for them to do it.
Button Best Practices
Make them obvious: Your buttons should stand out from the rest of your content. Use contrasting colours and sufficient white space around them.
Keep text clear: Use action words like "Buy Now", "Download", or "Get Started" rather than vague phrases like "Click Here".
Size matters: Buttons need to be large enough to tap easily on mobile devices but not so large they dominate the page.
Customising Button Appearance
Most website builders let you adjust:
- Background and text colours
- Border styles and thickness
- Padding and margins
- Font weight and size
- Hover effects and animations
The key is maintaining consistency across your site while making sure each button's purpose is clear.
Creating Effective Forms
Forms are how you collect information from visitors, whether that's contact details, feedback, or payment information.
Form Design Principles
Keep it short: Only ask for information you actually need. Every extra field reduces completion rates.
Use clear labels: Make sure users know what information goes in each field.
Group related fields: Put similar information together to create a logical flow.
Show progress: For longer forms, consider showing users how many steps remain.
Input Field Types
Different types of information need different input methods:
Text fields: For names, addresses, and general information
Email fields: These validate email format automatically
Phone fields: Often include country code selectors
Dropdown menus: Good for predefined options like countries or preferences
Checkboxes: For multiple selections or terms acceptance
Radio buttons: When users can only pick one option from several
Form Styling Options
You can typically customise:
- Field border colours and styles
- Background colours
- Font styles and sizes
- Spacing between fields
- Error message appearance
- Submit button design
Input Field Considerations
Input fields need to work well across all devices and browsers. Here's what to keep in mind:
Mobile compatibility: Fields should be large enough for finger tapping and text should be readable without zooming.
Placeholder text: Use it to provide examples or hints, but don't rely on it for essential instructions.
Required fields: Mark them clearly and consider using asterisks or different styling.
Validation: Set up real-time validation to catch errors before form submission.
Technical Implementation
Most modern website builders handle the technical side automatically, but it helps to understand what's happening behind the scenes.
HTML structure: Each form element has specific HTML tags that define its behaviour.
CSS styling: This controls how elements look and respond to user interactions.
JavaScript functionality: This adds interactive features like validation and dynamic content.
Database connection: Form submissions need somewhere to go, whether that's an email, CRM, or database.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Too many required fields: This creates friction and reduces completion rates.
Poor mobile experience: Always test your forms on actual mobile devices.
Unclear error messages: Users need to understand what went wrong and how to fix it.
Missing confirmation: Users should know when their form has been submitted successfully.
Inconsistent styling: All similar elements should look and behave the same way.
FAQs
Can I customise button hover effects?
Yes, most website builders include hover effect options. You can change colours, add shadows, or create subtle animations when users move their cursor over buttons.
How do I make forms work on mobile devices?
Modern website builders automatically make forms mobile-responsive, but you should test them yourself. Make sure text is readable, buttons are tappable, and the keyboard doesn't cover important fields.
What's the difference between radio buttons and checkboxes?
Radio buttons are for single selections from multiple options, while checkboxes allow multiple selections. Think of radio buttons like multiple choice questions and checkboxes like "select all that apply".
Can I connect forms to my email marketing system?
Most website builders offer integrations with popular email marketing platforms. Check your builder's app store or integration options for connections to services like Mailchimp or ConvertKit.
How do I prevent spam submissions?
Many builders include built-in spam protection, but you can also add CAPTCHA verification or honeypot fields to reduce automated submissions.
Jargon Buster
UI (User Interface): The visual elements users interact with on your website, including buttons, forms, and navigation menus.
Call-to-Action (CTA): Text or buttons that encourage users to take specific actions like "Buy Now" or "Sign Up".
Hover Effect: Visual changes that occur when users move their cursor over an element, like colour changes or shadows.
Form Validation: The process of checking user input to ensure it meets required criteria before submission.
Responsive Design: Website layouts that automatically adjust to work well on different screen sizes and devices.
Placeholder Text: Sample text that appears inside form fields to show users what kind of information to enter.
Wrap-up
UI elements like buttons, forms, and inputs are essential for creating websites that actually work for your users. They bridge the gap between what you want visitors to do and making it easy for them to do it.
Start with the basics: clear, well-positioned buttons and simple forms that collect only essential information. As you get comfortable with these elements, you can experiment with more advanced customisation and interactive features.
Remember that good UI design is invisible to users. When buttons and forms work well, people don't think about them at all – they just use them naturally to get things done.
Ready to level up your UI design skills? Join Pixelhaze Academy for in-depth tutorials and hands-on guidance.