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Live Preview

Problem summary

The user wants to check how changes in form fields effect and end result as quickly as possible.

Example

Example image showing 'Live Preview'

Usage

  • Use when you want to provide the user with a real-time preview of what he or she is creating
  • Use when it is hard for the user to comprehend how the final output will, be without having a preview to reference
  • Do not use when the input is straight forward and the resulting output does not depend on a specific layout

Solution

Update a live preview of what modifying a form will result in throughout the entire interaction with the form. Instead of waiting for the user to submit the form, the changes are shown immediately in a preview. Each user event of significance results in a browser-side processing.

Rationale

The result is increased interactivity. The user does not need to wait for page reload on a form submit to find out whether data was inputted correctly into the form. The feedback is immediate.

More examples images of the Live Preview pattern

When you add comments to an article at <a href="http://www.interaction-design.org/">www.interaction-design.org</a>, you can view a live preview of the final comment unfolding before your eyes.
When you add comments to an article at www.interaction-design.org, you can view a live preview of the final comment unfolding before your eyes.

This pattern was last updated on February 07, 2008

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