What to change
Ask your supplier to distinguish none, some and all selected states when one control manages several individual choices.
A worked example
Illustrative example
A group of notification categories shows a partial state when two of four categories are selected, and its action has a predictable effect on the group.
Why this matters to your practice
When only some items in a group are selected, the group control should show that partial state clearly. Otherwise, someone may mistake a mixed selection for either none or all. Ask your supplier to demonstrate selecting one item, several items and the complete group, then removing one again. The count and the visible markers should agree. Review spoken feedback too, so a user navigating without sight receives the same useful distinction before applying an action.
A practical review example
A group may contain four items with only two selected. Ask your supplier to demonstrate how the parent control describes that partial state visually and aloud. Select the rest, remove one and then clear the group. The markers and count should agree throughout. This is particularly useful before a grouped action, where treating a mixed selection as fully selected can mislead the user. Review the smaller child choices too, so the summary state reflects the actual items rather than an old cached selection.
How to check the result
Accept when aggregate state accurately reflects the controlled choices and its next action is understandable through both visual and assistive routes.
A mistake to avoid
Using a third visual state without exposing its meaning to accessibility tools leaves some visitors with the original ambiguity.
Turn reading into a next step
Your action checklist
Work through these checks with your team or supplier. Tick the ones you have resolved and leave unknowns open.
Record what you know, what is still missing and the answer you need from your team or supplier.
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Further reading
These sources provide background for the topic. The practice examples and checklist are illustrative planning suggestions from Kay & Co.
Related guides
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