

Because they are inherently and deliberately disruptive, they should not be used lightly. To return to the application’s main interface, users must interact with the modal layer. Modals (also known as modal windows, overlays, and dialogs) are large UI elements that sit on top of an application’s main window-often with a layer of transparency behind them to give users a peek into the main app. In this article, we’ll talk about what makes a good modal and how you can use this UI pattern to improve your UX and engage (not annoy) your users.

Many companies-Google, Grammarly, HubSpot, Spotify, etc-use them successfully to onboard users and nudge them toward high-impact actions. Modal windows are meant to be bold-and when used correctly, they are a great way to deliver messages that deserve users’ full attention.

This sort of bad UX behavior is unfortunately common.īecause they have the power to grab attention, modals are often seen as quick fixes to anything that could use a boost in engagement. Can you think of a product or website experience that was ruined by one too many pop-ups? A time when your workflow or browsing experience was interrupted by a full-screen takeover with no escape? A pesky notification just wouldn’t take a hint?
