Error Message Examples

For example, Joshua Porter noticed that he got a ton of form errors on the quotenter billing informationquot page. So, he added a tiny bit of copy to remind users to enter the billing address associated with their credit card.

Learn why error messages are important for UX design and how to craft effective ones. See real-world examples of good and bad error messages and common mistakes to avoid.

Missing Field quotLooks like you missed filling out the 'Name' field.Please enter your name.quot Invalid Format quotThe email address you entered seems to be invalid.Please double-check and enter a valid email address.quot Incorrect Data Type quotWe only accept numbers in the 'Phone Number' field.Please remove any letters or special characters.quot

Date is required. Invalid date format. Use MMDDYYYY. Time must be in the format HHMM AMPM. The selected date cannot be in the past. Start date cannot be later than the end date.

Instead, this works better Take a look at the RED banner that flashes for a good 10 sec enough time for the user to read the message and then slides out of view.

Usability heuristic 9 emphasizes the importance of good error-message design quotHelp Users Recognize, Diagnose, and Recover from Errors.quot Effectively handling errors is crucial because it's one of the 5 quality components of usable experiences.

Make errors visible -- use multiple messages if necessary. Never clear user input unless it is absolutely required. Provide information at a level that is appropriate to the user.

9. Don't write in ALL CAPS and avoid exclamation marks Everyone knows that one person who sends them messages in all caps. And we all should know that typing in all caps is basically like shouting in real life. As are exclamation points.

Be clear, specific, and suggest a solution. Clearly explain the issue and offer guidance. Example quotFile limit exceeded. Please upload a file smaller than 5MB.quot

Be clear. Be short and meaningful. Don't use technical jargon. Don't blame the user. Avoid negative words. Give directions to the user. Be specific and relevant.