GOV.UK Design System Warning text component
Documents warning text for important consequences of an action or lack of action, with an icon, visible warning wording, and appropriate hidden fallback text.
What this source can teach
Use this source to compare a documented solution with the task and states in your own product.
- Start with the original. Open the source and find the guidance or example relevant to your task.
- Trace the connection. Use the claim notes below to see how this site applies the source to specific patterns.
- Check the setting. Compare the source's platform, people, and constraints with your own decision.
Pattern Decisions This Source Supports
| Pattern | Supported decision | Required contract | Claim note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Confirmation fatigue | Flag this anti-pattern when low-risk, reversible, or high-frequency actions repeatedly open modal confirmations. | Each confirmation must have a documented risk, consequence, and reason it is better than undo, prevention, warning text, review, or clearer command placement. | GOV.UK warning text helps separate concise before-action consequence copy from modal confirmation. |
| Warning text | Choose warning text when one severe consequence needs to be noticed before the user acts or fails to act. | The warning appears in the reading order before the action or answer it qualifies. | GOV.UK defines warning text for important consequences of an action or lack of action and documents icon fallback wording. |
Comparisons supported by this source
- Ambiguous destructive action copy vs destructive action confirmation vs typed confirmation vs dangerous-action review vs confirmation fatigue vs warning text
Warning text guidance supports consequence copy before action when a modal decision is not the right surface.
- Confirmation fatigue vs confirmation dialog vs destructive action confirmation vs undo vs warning text vs dangerous-action review
GOV.UK warning text supports before-action consequence copy when a modal decision is not needed.
- Summary box vs alert vs warning text vs disclosure details
GOV.UK warning text distinguishes severe consequence copy from static summaries.
- Warning text vs alert vs inline message vs error summary
GOV.UK defines warning text for important consequences of an action or lack of action and documents the icon plus warning fallback structure.
Evidence Role
This source is treated as pattern-library evidence. Its value comes from the specific claims and setting described above.
Publisher: Government Digital Service. Last checked: .