U.S. Web Design System Alert Component
Documents alert use for system status, validation messages, next steps, dismissibility, context relevance, and ARIA role choice by urgency.
What this source can teach
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Pattern Decisions This Source Supports
| Pattern | Supported decision | Required contract | Claim note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alert | Choose alert when a time-sensitive warning, error, or important status change must be noticed immediately without moving focus. | The alert appears close to the task area whose outcome it affects and before the controls users need next. | USWDS describes alerts for system status and validation messages, with guidance for next steps, dismissibility, context, and ARIA role selection. |
| Site alert | Choose site alert when urgent sitewide information must appear by default on every affected page near the top of the site. | The site alert appears before ordinary page content and is reachable from any affected route, not just the home page. | USWDS alert guidance supports separating page-level task alerts and validation messages from sitewide alert announcements. |
| 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. | USWDS alert guidance helps distinguish status and validation containers from a concise severe-consequence warning. |
Comparisons supported by this source
- Alert vs inline message vs toast notification vs confirmation dialog
USWDS defines alert use for status and validation messages, recommends next-step copy, and distinguishes destructive actions that need confirmation.
- Site alert vs banner vs notification banner vs alert
USWDS alert guidance supports using alerts for page-level status, validation, and task completion rather than sitewide announcements.
- Warning text vs alert vs inline message vs error summary
USWDS alert guidance distinguishes status and validation messages that need more container behavior than a single consequence warning.
Evidence Role
This source is treated as pattern-library evidence. Its value comes from the specific claims and setting described above.
Publisher: U.S. Web Design System. Last checked: .