Design Principle
Optimistic updates make interfaces feel fast while failure and rollback remain understandable.
Principle Optimistic updates make interfaces feel fast while failure and rollback remain understandable.
Design action Show the expected result immediately and mark saving; on failure, restore state, explain why, and offer retry or undo.
Examples Positive example: Favorites, sorting, title editing, status toggles, and light bulk actions have manageable latency. Counterexample: The UI silently rolls back after failure.
Apply when Favorites, sorting, title editing, status toggles, and light bulk actions have manageable latency. Users need to judge state, scope, risk, or next action quickly.
Source notes Source note: Synthesized from Apple HIG, Material Design, GOV.UK/Polaris/Atlassian component practices, and interaction accessibility principles.
Agent Directive
Show the expected result immediately and mark saving; on failure, restore state, explain why, and offer retry or undo.