Live Preview design pattern

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

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 straightforward and the resulting output does not depend on a specific layout

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.

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.

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.
When you enter your repository name, the field below with your chosen address changes live.

4 Comments

Jasper Kennis

20 Mar, 2008

One of the best forms of feedback ánd feed forward there is. It takes away the doubt about the result of what your doing.

PrabhakaranG

24 Jun, 2008

Hi Anders Toxboe, you have done a wonderful job here. I like the way it’s presented with the examples & references that you have provided. I have come across some websites, where they publish as if they have founded it, but in this case, you seem to be very honest & intelligent.

Just a clarification, have you ever designed this pattern using JS or something else. I wish you should keep investigating & put your thoughts how we can do this better. By this way you can showcase your creativity to the world.

Wish you all the best.

Warm Regards PrabhakaranG

Anders Toxboe

24 Jun, 2008

PrabhakaranG: Thank you for the nice words.

Yes, I have implemented this pattern before using javascript. It’s pretty simple -> add an onchange event listener to an < input > field and use the current value (this.value) to update the contents of another element.

Rahul Mohan

23 May, 2011

A very good example of this is available in www.stackoverflow.com. When one types a response a box below shows exactly how it is going to look on the site. Very useful pattern.