EN ISO 9241-161:2016

Ergonomics of human-system interaction - Part 161: Guidance on visual user-interface elements (ISO 9241-161:2016)

ISO 9241-161:2016 describes visual user-interface elements presented by software and provides requirements and recommendations on when and how to use them. This part of ISO 9241 is concerned with software components of interactive systems to make human-system interaction usable as far as the basic interaction aspects are concerned.
ISO 9241-161:2016 provides a comprehensive list of generic visual user-interface elements, regardless of a specific input method, visualization, and platform or implementation technology. The guidance given in this part of ISO 9241 is intended to be used in conjunction with ISO 9241 guidance on dialogue techniques. It recognizes that additional elements can evolve. It also addresses derivates, compositions (assemblies) and states of user-interface elements. It gives requirements and recommendations on selection, usage and dependencies of user-interface elements and their application. It is applicable regardless of a fixed, portable or mobile interactive system.
It does not provide detailed coverage of the methods and techniques required for design of user-interface elements. This part of ISO 9241 does not address implementation (e.g. graphical design of elements) and interaction details for specific input methods or technologies. It does not cover decorative user-interface elements that are intended to address solely aesthetic (hedonic) qualities in the user interface, e.g. background images.
The information in this part of ISO 9241 is intended for use by those responsible for the selection and implementation of visual user-interface elements in interactive systems and for evaluating user interfaces. It is intended for use by those planning and managing platform specific aspects of user interface screen design. It also provides guidance for human factors/ergonomics and usability professionals involved in human-centred design. It addresses technical issues only to the extent necessary to allow users of this part of ISO 9241 to understand the relevance and importance of a consistent interface element usage and selection in the design process as a whole.
Annex A provides a guide to selection of different visual user interface elements depending of their appropriate application.

Ergonomie der Mensch-System-Interaktion - Teil 161: Leitfaden zu visuellen User-Interface Elementen (ISO 9241-161:2016)

Ergonomie de l'interaction homme-système - Partie 161: Éléments de l'interface utilisateur (ISO 9241-161:2016)

ISO 9241-161:2016 décrit les éléments visuels de l'interface utilisateur présentés par le logiciel et fournit des exigences et des recommandations sur quand et comment les utiliser. La présente partie de l'ISO 9241 concerne les composants logiciels des systèmes interactifs permettant de rendre l'interaction homme-système utilisable dans la mesure où les aspects d'interaction de base sont concernés.
ISO 9241-161:2016 fournit une liste complète des éléments visuels génériques de l'interface utilisateur, quels que soient la technique de dialogue spécifique, la méthode d'entrée, la visualisation et la technologie de plateforme ou d'implémentation. Les lignes directrices données dans la présente partie de l'ISO 9241 sont destinées à être utilisées conjointement aux lignes directrices de l'ISO 9241 relatives aux techniques de dialogue. Des éléments supplémentaires peuvent être élaborés. Elle traite également des dérivés, des compositions (ensembles) et des états des éléments de l'interface utilisateur. Elle fournit des exigences et des recommandations concernant la sélection, l'usage et les relations entre les éléments de l'interface utilisateur et leur application. Elle s'applique, que le système interactif soit fixe, portatif ou mobile.
Elle ne couvre pas de façon détaillée les méthodes et les techniques requises pour la conception des éléments de l'interface utilisateur. La présente partie de l'ISO 9241 ne traite pas des détails de l'implémentation (par exemple conception graphique des éléments) et de l'interaction pour des méthodes d'entrée ou des technologies spécifiques. Elle ne couvre pas les éléments décoratifs de l'interface utilisateur qui sont uniquement destinés à traiter des qualités esthétiques (hédoniques) de l'interface utilisateur, par exemple les images en arrière-plan.
Les informations contenues dans la présente partie de l'ISO 9241 sont destinées à être utilisées par les responsables de la sélection et de l'implémentation des éléments visuels de l'interface utilisateur dans des systèmes interactifs et de l'évaluation des interfaces utilisateur. Elle est destinée à être utilisée par les personnes qui planifient et gèrent les aspects de la conception des écrans d'interface utilisateur spécifiques à la plateforme. Elle fournit également des lignes directrices pour les professionnels des facteurs humains/ergonomie et de l'utilisabilité impliqués dans la conception centrée utilisateur. Elle traite des questions techniques uniquement dans la mesure où cela est nécessaire pour permettre aux utilisateurs de la présente partie de l'ISO 9241 de comprendre la pertinence et l'importance d'une sélection et d'un usage cohérents des éléments d'interface dans l'ensemble du processus de conception.
L'Annexe A fournit des informations relatives à la sélection des différents éléments visuels d'interface utilisateur en fonction de leur application appropriée.

Ergonomija medsebojnega vpliva človek-sistem - 161. del: Navodilo za vizualne elemente uporabniških vmesnikov (ISO 9241-161:2016)

Ta del standarda ISO 9241 opisuje vizualne elemente uporabniških vmesnikov ter podaja zahteve in priporočila o tem, kdaj in kako jih uporabiti. Ta del standarda ISO 9241 se nanaša na komponente programske opreme interaktivnih sistemov, ki omogočajo uporabnost medsebojnega vpliva človek-sistem kar zadeva osnovne vidike medsebojnega vpliva. Ta del standarda ISO 9241 podaja obsežen seznam splošnih vizualnih elementov uporabniških vmesnikov ne glede na posamezno tehniko dialoga, metodo vnosa, vizualizacijo in platformo ali tehnologijo uvajanja. Obravnava tudi izpeljanke, sestave (sklope) in stanja elementov uporabniških vmesnikov. Podaja zahteve in priporočila o izbiri, uporabi in odvisnostih elementov uporabniških vmesnikov ter njihovi uporabi. Uporablja se ne glede na to, ali gre za fiksen, prenosen ali mobilen interaktivni sistem. Ne zajema podrobnosti metod in tehnik, potrebnih za načrtovanje elementov uporabniških vmesnikov. Ta standard ne obravnava podrobnosti uvajanja in interakcije pri posameznih metodah ali tehnologijah vnosa. Ne zajema dekorativnih elementov uporabniških vmesnikov, katerih namen so samo estetske (hedonistične) lastnosti uporabniških vmesnikov, kot so slike ozadja. Informacije v tem delu standarda ISO 9241 so namenjene osebam, ki so odgovorne za načrtovanje in ocenjevanje uporabniških vmesnikov ter za načrtovanje in upravljanje vidikov zasnove zaslona uporabniškega vmesnika, značilnih za posamezno platformo. Podaja tudi smernice za strokovnjake na področju človeških dejavnikov/ergonomije in uporabnosti, ki sodelujejo pri načrtovanju z osredotočenostjo na človeka. Tehnične zadeve obravnava samo v tolikšnem obsegu, kolikor je potrebno, da uporabnikom tega mednarodnega standarda omogoča razumevanje ustreznosti ter pomembnosti dosledne uporabe in izbire elementov vmesnikov pri postopku načrtovanja kot celote. Dodatek C vsebuje kontrolni seznam, ki ga je mogoče uporabiti za preverjanje skladnosti s tem standardom.

General Information

• Status: Withdrawn
• Publication Date: 22-Mar-2016
• Withdrawal Date: 23-Dec-2025
• ICS: 13.180 - Ergonomics
• ICS: 35.180 - IT Terminal and other peripheral equipment
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 122 - Ergonomics
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 122/WG 5 - Ergonomics of human-computer interaction
• Current Stage: 6060 - Definitive text made available (DAV) - Publishing
• Start Date: 23-Mar-2016
• Completion Date: 23-Mar-2016
• Ref Project: SIST EN ISO 9241-161:2016 - Ergonomics of human-system interaction - Part 161: Guidance on visual user-interface elements (ISO 9241-161:2016)

Overview

EN ISO 9241-161:2016 (ISO 9241-161:2016) provides ergonomics guidance for visual user‑interface elements presented by software. It lists generic UI elements (e.g., accordions, sliders, carousels, check boxes, colour pickers, combo boxes, cursors, date pickers, dialogue boxes, dropdowns) and gives requirements and recommendations on when and how to use them to make human‑system interaction usable. The standard applies across fixed, portable and mobile interactive systems and is intended to be used together with other ISO 9241 guidance on dialogue techniques and human‑centred design.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Comprehensive element catalogue: Descriptions of many common visual UI elements, including their components, states, and typical usage patterns.
• Selection and usage guidance: Requirements and recommendations to help choose appropriate UI elements and manage their dependencies and compositions (assemblies and derivates).
• States and behaviours: Definitions and considerations for element states (e.g., enabled/disabled, focused, selected) that affect usability and accessibility.
• Accessibility considerations: Guidance intended to support accessible interaction regardless of input method or platform.
• Platform‑agnostic scope: Applies independently of visualization technology, input method or implementation technique.
• Design vs implementation: Focuses on selection and application of elements - it does not prescribe detailed visual design, coding techniques, or interaction specifics tied to particular input technologies.
• Annex A: A practical guide to selecting the most appropriate visual UI elements for a given application context.

Practical applications and users

Who benefits from ISO 9241-161:

• UX/UI designers selecting consistent interface elements across products and platforms.
• Usability and human factors professionals conducting evaluations or defining human‑centred requirements.
• Product managers and design leads planning screen layouts and platform‑specific UI strategies.
• Developers and front‑end engineers using the standard as a reference for expected behaviour and state handling (but not for visual styling).
  Practical uses:
• Creating consistent, usable component libraries and design systems.
• Evaluating interfaces for usability and accessibility conformance.
• Informing interaction specifications and requirements in procurement or regulatory documentation.

Related standards

• ISO 9241 series - other parts cover dialogue techniques and broader human‑system interaction principles and should be used in conjunction with ISO 9241‑161 for complete ergonomics guidance.

By following ISO 9241-161, teams can improve consistency, usability and accessibility of visual user‑interface elements across platforms while aligning with internationally recognized ergonomics best practices.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-junij-2016
(UJRQRPLMDPHGVHERMQHJDYSOLYDþORYHNVLVWHPGHO1DYRGLOR]DYL]XDOQH
HOHPHQWHXSRUDEQLãNLKYPHVQLNRY,62
Ergonomics of human-system interaction - Part 161: Guidance on visual user-interface
elements (ISO 9241-161:2016)
Ergonomie der Mensch-System-Interaktion - Teil 161: Leitfaden zu visuellen User-
Interface Elementen (ISO 9241-161:2016)
Ergonomie de l'interaction homme-système - Partie 161: Éléments de l'interface
utilisateur (ISO 9241-161:2016)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN ISO 9241-161:2016
ICS:
13.180 Ergonomija Ergonomics
35.180 Terminalska in druga IT Terminal and other
periferna oprema IT peripheral equipment
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EN ISO 9241-161
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
March 2016
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 13.180; 35.180
English Version
Ergonomics of human-system interaction - Part 161:
Guidance on visual user-interface elements (ISO 9241-
161:2016)
Ergonomie de l'interaction homme-système - Partie Ergonomie der Mensch-System-Interaktion - Teil 161:
161: Éléments de l'interface utilisateur (ISO 9241- Leitfaden zu visuellen User-Interface Elementen (ISO
161:2016) 9241-161:2016)
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 15 January 2016.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this
European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management
Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and
United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000 Brussels
© 2016 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN ISO 9241-161:2016 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 3

European foreword
This document (EN ISO 9241-161:2016) has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 159
"Ergonomics" in collaboration with Technical Committee CEN/TC 122 “Ergonomics” the secretariat of
which is held by DIN.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by September 2016, and conflicting national standards
shall be withdrawn at the latest by September 2016.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN [and/or CENELEC] shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent
rights.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,
France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta,
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Turkey and the United Kingdom.
Endorsement notice
The text of ISO 9241-161:2016 has been approved by CEN as EN ISO 9241-161:2016 without any
modification.
INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 9241-161
First edition
2016-02-15
Ergonomics of human-system
interaction —
Part 161:
Guidance on visual user-interface
elements
Ergonomie de l’interaction homme-système —
Partie 161: Éléments de l’interface utilisateur
Reference number
ISO 9241-161:2016(E)
©
ISO 2016
ISO 9241-161:2016(E)
© ISO 2016, Published in Switzerland
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on the internet or an intranet, without prior
written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below or ISO’s member body in the country of
the requester.
ISO copyright office
Ch. de Blandonnet 8 • CP 401
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Fax [phone]
[e-mail]
www.iso.org
ii © ISO 2016 – All rights reserved

ISO 9241-161:2016(E)
Contents Page
Foreword .ix
Introduction .xi
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Accessibility . 4
5 Relationship of input methods and visual user-interface elements . 4
6 States of visual user-interface elements . 5
7 Describing visual user-interface elements . 5
8 Visual user-interface elements . 6
8.1 Accordion . 6
8.1.1 Description . . . 6
8.1.2 Components . 6
8.1.3 States . 7
8.1.4 When to use an accordion . 7
8.1.5 How to use an accordion . 8
8.2 Analogue form element/slider . 8
8.2.1 Description . . . 8
8.2.2 Components . 8
8.2.3 States . 8
8.2.4 When to use an analogue form element . 8
8.2.5 How to use an analogue form element . 9
8.3 Carousel/Carrousel . 9
8.3.1 Description . . . 9
8.3.2 Components . 9
8.3.3 States .10
8.3.4 When to use a carousel .10
8.3.5 How to use a carousel .10
8.4 Check box/check button .10
8.4.1 Description . . .10
8.4.2 Components .10
8.4.3 States .11
8.4.4 When to use a check box .11
8.4.5 How to use a check box .11
8.5 Collapsible container .12
8.5.1 Description . . .12
8.5.2 Components .12
8.5.3 States .13
8.5.4 When to use a collapsible container .13
8.5.5 How to use a collapsible container .13
8.6 Colour picker .13
8.6.1 Description . . .13
8.6.2 Components .13
8.6.3 States .13
8.6.4 When to use a colour picker .13
8.6.5 How to use a colour picker .13
8.7 Combination box/combo box .14
8.7.1 Description . . .14
8.7.2 Components .14
8.7.3 States .15
8.7.4 When to use a combination box.15
ISO 9241-161:2016(E)
8.7.5 How to use a combination box .16
8.8 Cursor .16
8.8.1 Description . . .16
8.8.2 Components .16
8.8.3 States .16
8.8.4 When to use a cursor . . .16
8.8.5 How to use a cursor .16
8.9 Date picker .17
8.9.1 Description . . .17
8.9.2 Components .17
8.9.3 States .17
8.9.4 When to use a date picker .18
8.9.5 How to use a date picker .18
8.10 Dialogue box .18
8.10.1 Description . . .18
8.10.2 Components .18
8.10.3 States .19
8.10.4 When to use a dialogue box .19
8.10.5 How to use a dialogue box .19
8.11 Dropdown list box .19
8.11.1 Description . . .19
8.11.2 Components .20
8.11.3 When to use a dropdown list box .20
8.11.4 How to use a dropdown list box .21
8.12 Entry field/input field .21
8.12.1 Description . . .21
8.12.2 Components .21
8.12.3 States .21
8.12.4 When to use an entry field .22
8.12.5 How to use an entry field .22
8.13 Entry field with dialogue button.22
8.13.1 Description . . .22
8.13.2 Components .22
8.13.3 States .22
8.13.4 When to use an entry field with dialogue button .22
8.13.5 How to use an entry field with dialogue button .23
8.14 Geographical map .23
8.14.1 Description . . .23
8.14.2 Components .23
8.14.3 States .23
8.14.4 When to use a geographical map .23
8.14.5 How to use a geographical map .24
8.15 Group/group box .24
8.15.1 Description . . .24
8.15.2 Components .24
8.15.3 States .24
8.15.4 When to use a group .24
8.15.5 How to use a group .25
8.16 Handle.25
8.16.1 Description . . .25
8.16.2 Components .25
8.16.3 States .25
8.16.4 When to use a handle .26
8.16.5 How to use a handle .26
8.17 Hierarchical list/tree view/tree lists .26
8.17.1 Description . . .26
8.17.2 Components .26
8.17.3 States .27
iv © ISO 2016 – All rights reserved

ISO 9241-161:2016(E)
8.17.4 When to use a hierarchical list .27
8.17.5 How to use a hierarchical list .27
8.18 Implicit designator .27
8.18.1 Description . . .27
8.18.2 Components .27
8.18.3 States .28
8.18.4 When to use an implicit designator .28
8.18.5 How to use an implicit designator .28
8.19 Instructive information .28
8.19.1 Description . . .28
8.19.2 Components .28
8.19.3 States .29
8.19.4 When to use instructive information .29
8.19.5 How to use instructive information.29
8.20 Input tokenizer .29
8.20.1 Description . . .29
8.20.2 Components .30
8.20.3 States .30
8.20.4 When to use an input tokenizer .30
8.20.5 How to use an input tokenizer .30
8.21 Label .31
8.21.1 Description . . .31
8.21.2 Components .31
8.21.3 States .31
8.21.4 When to use a label .31
8.21.5 How to use a label .31
8.22 Legend/chart key .31
8.22.1 Description . . .31
8.22.2 Components .32
8.22.3 States .32
8.22.4 When to use a legend .32
8.22.5 How to use a legend .32
8.23 Link/hyperlink .32
8.23.1 Description . . .32
8.23.2 Components .33
8.23.3 States .33
8.23.4 When to use a link .33
8.23.5 How to use a link . .33
8.24 List box .34
8.24.1 Description . . .34
8.24.2 Components .34
8.24.3 States .34
8.24.4 When to use a list box .35
8.24.5 How to use a list box .35
8.25 List button/menu button .35
8.25.1 Description . . .35
8.25.2 Components .35
8.25.3 States .36
8.25.4 When to use a list button .36
8.25.5 How to use a list button .36
8.26 Menu/menu bar .36
8.26.1 Description . . .36
8.26.2 Components .37
8.26.3 States .37
8.26.4 When to use a menu .37
8.26.5 How to use a menu .38
8.27 Output pane .38
8.27.1 Description . . .38
ISO 9241-161:2016(E)
8.27.2 Components .38
8.27.3 States .38
8.27.4 When to use an output pane .38
8.27.5 How to use an output pane .38
8.28 Pointer .39
8.28.1 Description . . .39
8.28.2 Components .39
8.28.3 States .39
8.28.4 When to use a pointer .39
8.28.5 How to use a pointer.39
8.29 Pop-up menu/contextual menu .40
8.29.1 Description . . .40
8.29.2 Components .40
8.29.3 States .40
8.29.4 When to use a pop-up menu .40
8.29.5 How to use a pop-up menu .40
8.30 Progress indicator .41
8.30.1 Description . . .41
8.30.2 Components .41
8.30.3 States .41
8.30.4 When to use a progress indicator.41
8.30.5 How to use a progress indicator .41
8.31 Prompt .41
8.31.1 Description . . .41
8.31.2 Components .41
8.31.3 States .42
8.31.4 When to use a prompt .42
8.31.5 How to use a prompt .42
8.32 Push button/command button .42
8.32.1 Description . . .42
8.32.2 Components .42
8.32.3 States .43
8.32.4 When to use a push button .43
8.32.5 How to use a push button.43
8.33 Radio button .43
8.33.1 Description . . .43
8.33.2 Components .44
8.33.3 States .44
8.33.4 When to use a radio button .44
8.33.5 How to use a radio butto
...