Indeterminate and determinate loading and progress indicators: what is the difference? Check the specific cases of their proper use
Loading and progress indicators play important role in the context of how positively the interface is perceived. Demonstrating download progress to users gives them a sense of control over the process of interacting with the application. Obviously, the system must have a speedy response to any action.
However, when it is impossible to provide the required speed, you need to organically beat the loading time to maintain interest in your application until the action is completed. After all, according to Jakob Nielsen’s ten heuristics, visibility of the state of a system improves overall user experience and ease of interaction with UI. Below, we will explain the differences between uncertain and deterministic indicators and highlight the best practices for their implementation.
What Is the Difference Between Indeterminate and Determinate Loading Indicators?
When creating a loading indicator, you should consider factors such as the power of user devices and the speed of their Internet connection. If they play a significant role in loading the specific element, this will lead you to a correct decision.
Indeterminate indicators
If the load of the particular element depends on the Internet speed and parameters of the end user’s device, in that case, you should choose an indeterminate indicator. This way, users will be confident that the application is working and will not think about a malfunction or error.
Determinate indicators
If your application can determine in percentage terms how much of the loading process is complete and how long it will take, then you should choose a determinate indicator. This will show users the level of progress and allow them to estimate the wait time.
9 Best Loading and Progress Indicators to Use
Let’s look at examples of how you can organically use loading indicators without compromising the user experience of your application.
Single loading indicator
If you need to carry out several simultaneous downloads on one application screen, combine them into one common one for all processes. This way, users will not be burdened with the feeling of long waits and overload. In the example below, you can see how such an indicator can be implemented.
Screen template
If you want to improve your app’s user experience during loading, you can create a loading space template instead of a blank screen. Thus, users will get an understanding of what will happen next and will not be distracted from the tasks at hand.
Progressive loading
One of your main goals in building a responsive and visually pleasing interface is to minimize the time it takes for content to load on the screen to maximize user retention. So, you can use the method of progressive page loading, where the most essential information will be loaded first, followed by the secondary data.
Strategic placement of loading indicators
Pay attention to the correct placement of the loading indicator on the screen. So, if the user swipes up, the indicator should appear at the bottom of the page, hinting that the content will be displayed there. The same goes for swiping down. In this case, the indicator should be depicted throughout the page, showing the user what will happen at the next step.
Uninterrupted use of the application
Long waits for loading make users feel uncomfortable. Thus, creating a small background loading window would be best instead of taking up the entire screen space. Also, valuable features will be the ability to stop and cancel downloads. By ensuring a smooth experience with your app, users will get greater satisfaction while interacting with it.
Estimated remaining load time
To reduce user anxiety during loading, you can create a percentage counter that shows progress. Another great feature is the countdown until the download is complete and the ability to stop or pause it. This way, you can improve user satisfaction and manage user expectations.
Download progress hints
If the application needs to load for a long time, it is crucial for you to make it clear to the user that a lag or freeze has not occurred. To avoid disappointment, you must show that the process is going as planned. This way, you can create different animations or progress indicators that will keep users calm and improve the overall perception of your digital solution.
Loading indicator integrated into other elements
The idea of integrating the loading indicator into other UI elements of your app will give your users a more holistic experience. This solution also offers users a clearer understanding of the relationship between an action and its result. In addition, a smooth transition from the indeterminate indicator to the successful download icon will increase the overall impression of your product.
Entertainment elements
You can use entertainment elements to reduce user stress during long loading times. Thanks to this, you can keep them busy with something interesting while completing the download process. This, in turn, will increase users’ interest in your application and improve its perception on the background of similar solutions.
We hope that our tips to implement loading indicators will help you create digital solutions that will overcome your audience’s needs and wishes. However, this part of the work on UI is just a drop in the ocean of tasks assigned to the web designer from project to project. Therefore, you may need additional software tools to simplify your tasks. In particular, if you want to speed up and optimize the development of user flows, user journeys, and prototypes, you can try our comprehensive solution.
