Confirmation dialog box explained

Confirmation dialog (sometimes called a warning alert box or chicken box)^{[1] [2]} is a dialog box that asks user to approve requested operation. Usually this dialog appears before a potentially dangerous operation is performed (program termination, file deletion, etc.)

Typically confirmation dialog boxes have two buttons (e.g. Yes / No, Confirm / Cancel) or three buttons (e. g. Save / Discard / Cancel).

Some human interface guidelines recommend avoiding unnecessary confirmation dialogs.^[3] BlackBerry and Sun Java UI guidelines recommended a confirmation button be put before a cancellation button; but a default button should not be associated with a major destructive action.^{[2] [4]}

References

1. Web site: gui design - Is "Chicken Box" an appropriate term for a Yes/No dialogue with a warning? . 2023-05-11 . User Experience Stack Exchange . en.
2. http://java.sun.com/products/jlf/ed2/book/HIG.Dialogs5.html Java Look and Feel Design Guidelines, Alert Boxes
3. http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa511273.aspx#rightui Microsoft GUI guidelines
4. http://docs.blackberry.com/en/developers/deliverables/17965/Dialog_boxes_6_0_1198535_11.jsp#BP_Implementing_dialog_boxes_6_0_1200236_11 BlackBerry GUI guidelines

See also

• Error-tolerant design
• Alert dialog box