The best dark mode toggle is probably none
21 days ago
- The author initially recommended a two-state dark mode toggle (system vs opposite) over a tri-state toggle for persistent controls.
- After debate, the author now believes most websites should not have a persistent dark mode toggle; it belongs in a separate settings panel.
- The tri-state toggle adds unnecessary cognitive load because the user's intent is simply to flip the theme, not to manage system vs pinned states.
- Bramus's objection about OS auto-switching scenarios (where a two-state toggle might conflict with time-of-day changes) is considered a rare edge case with cheap recovery, not worth complicating every interaction.
- Alternative designs like Vale's 3-in-2 toggle and Toni's undoable two-state toggle are creative but seen as solving a non-problem for the vast majority of users.
- Persistent dark mode toggles are common on developer-facing sites but absent from most consumer-facing sites (e.g., Gmail, Facebook), suggesting they are not essential for average users.
- The author emphasizes the importance of stepping back and questioning whether a UX problem is actually worth solving before diving into design debates.