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Stop Putting Asterisks on Required Fields

Aug 8

Putting asterisks on required fields is a bad practice that designers must stop doing. Although this practice is outdated, it’s still quite common.

The idea is to inform users which fields they need to fill out, but most fields on forms are required. Therefore, users come to a form expecting to fill out most fields. Adding a distracting red asterisk to every field label is unnecessary. It's better to mark optional fields instead.

The asterisks also give users the perception that an error has occurred before they even type their input. This false alarm can turn some users off immediately and make them think twice about continuing.

Indicating which fields are required should only come in an error message after users leave the field blank and submit the form. If users are already filling out a required field, there's no need to alarm them with an asterisk. It only creates visual clutter and distraction when users scan field labels.

What are your thoughts on this practice?

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