Alerts, prompts and confirming user choices
Alerts, Prompts and confirming user choices are usually presented as popups in order to gain the user’s attention.
Alerts is used to warn the user when the computer is about to perform an action that could potentially cause damage to the computer (e.g. Expose the computer to malicious software). This improves functionality by giving the user the chance to cancel the action before any damaging actions can occur. They can also allow users to allow access to block features in case the computer was mistaken about something being damaging, even if it’s not (e.g. some JavaScript actions can be blocked by the computer if they appear threatening).
Prompts are used to show the user that they have to perform a certain input in order to continue (e.g. Entering an email address when filling an online form). This improves functionality by increasing the chances of the user entering the correct information and decreases the chances of user errors occurring.
Confirming user choices are used to ask users to approve of a requested performance (e.g. When deleting a file from the Recycle Bin, the computer will ask – ‘are you sure you want to permanently delete this file?’). This improves functionality by preventing/reducing user errors. Using the example given earlier, confirmation notifications ask for permission to permanently delete files from the computer so if the user clicked ‘delete’ accidently, they have the chance to cancel the action.
Redirecting the user
Redirecting links are usually embedded within a webpage as text or an image (e.g. hyperlinks). Redirecting links are used as a way for the user to access either an internal page on the website or an external website. This improves functionality by making it quick an easy for the user to access where they are wanting to go, without wasting time looking for it themselves.
For example, when the user clicks 'computer programming' on the webpage (highlighted above), the website redirects them to the page about computer programming.
