dd013_Displaying required fields.

Question: Should we indicate required fields or optional fields in forms?

Option 1

Only display an (optional) field indicator, not a *required field indicator.

For

• Less noise in the UI if we are following the UX pattern to only include required fields in the form.

Against

• This option will require a component style change.

Option 2

Only display a *required field indicator, not an (optional) field indicator.

For

• NN Group suggests that display *required fields is a more familiar pattern.
• Does not require a component style change.

Against

• Will add UI to the form in more scenarios than if only (optional) fields were indicated.

Decision

Option 2. Display *required fields using an asterisk. Do not add (optional) to unrequired fields.

• Use a red asterisk.
• The asterisk should be to the left of the first character of the label.