News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:Ask HN: Why are toggle switches replacing checkboxes? Isn... by j33zusjuice on Thursday January 19, 2023 @09:31AM (#34440647)
Why? It feels better on the right, imo. It’s more natural, I see what it is, and then decide at the end to select or deselect. If it’s on the left, I now have to return to the beginning of the word. It’s not very natural.
Re:Ask HN: Why are toggle switches replacing checkboxes? Isn... by wiradikusuma on Thursday January 19, 2023 @09:53AM (#34440911)
I think it looks nicer if you have few elements with varying width:

[x] bla

[ ] this is a very long label

[ ] lorem ipsum

Re:Ask HN: Why are toggle switches replacing checkboxes? Isn... by layer8 on Thursday January 19, 2023 @10:02AM (#34441012)
Yes, it’s the same reason why bullet lists have the bullet on the left side.
Re:Ask HN: Why are toggle switches replacing checkboxes? Isn... by stronglikedan on Thursday January 19, 2023 @10:45AM (#34441531)
Even in Saudi Arabia?
Re:Ask HN: Why are toggle switches replacing checkboxes? Isn... by layer8 on Thursday January 19, 2023 @10:49AM (#34441585)
No, I noted that in the other subthread: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34440812

For RTL languages, everything is simply mirrored though: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/globalization/localizabili... It doesn’t change the general argument.

Re:Ask HN: Why are toggle switches replacing checkboxes? Isn... by chaorace on Thursday January 19, 2023 @10:57AM (#34441682)
More broadly, this is a consequence of English being a LTR language. The eye scans from left to right when reading these languages, so one naturally wants to place important visual symbols (bullets, controls, etc.) firstmost where they'll offer maximum contextual impact for the proceeding information.

The fixed-width nature of these elements is more of an afterthought that emerges because neat grids make information easier to parse and are generally considered to be visually pleasing. In RTL languages, the movement of the eye is mirrored, so the natural position of these elements also gets mirrored to the right-hand side. Of course, the fixed-width nature does not change because the instinct to craft neat grids exists regardless of directionality.

Recently, however, we have begun to see certain touch-based interfaces adopt right-aligned controls specifically, even in LTR configurations. This evolved to compensate for the fact that most people are right-handed and generally cannot reach across the width of a modern touchscreen one-handed. It's effectively a concession to accessibility and is best implemented as a toggleable feature to avoid disadvantaging left-handed users.

Re:Ask HN: Why are toggle switches replacing checkboxes? Isn... by glitchc on Thursday January 19, 2023 @10:54AM (#34441641)
Looks nicer but is less user-friendly.
Re:Ask HN: Why are toggle switches replacing checkboxes? Isn... by Tagbert on Thursday January 19, 2023 @09:05PM (#34448321)
More user friendly for parsing a list of different options.
Re:Ask HN: Why are toggle switches replacing checkboxes? Isn... by glitchc on Thursday January 19, 2023 @09:12PM (#34448365)
I disagree and I'm a user.

Buttons and toggles along the right margin and text on the left works for me. I prefer to read first what I'm turning on or off.

Re:Ask HN: Why are toggle switches replacing checkboxes? Isn... by TheAngush on Friday January 20, 2023 @01:11AM (#34449770)
There's a distinction between user-friendly and you-friendly, regardless of your individual status as a user.
Re:Ask HN: Why are toggle switches replacing checkboxes? Isn... by cyanydeez on Thursday January 19, 2023 @11:44AM (#34442348)
Easier to line up check boxes on left
Re:Ask HN: Why are toggle switches replacing checkboxes? Isn... by zestyping on Thursday January 19, 2023 @03:02PM (#34444880)
The checkbox is closer to the text on the left. If it's on the right, there will be a gap that varies with the length of the longest item, making it harder to line up with its associated item.