Common actions terminology

Guidewire follows user experience best practices for common actions. The behavior of these actions is designed to be consistent throughout Guidewire Cloud applications. This list includes common UI terms and recommended action labels for use in Guidewire UI content.

Add

Takes an existing object or item and adds it to an interaction or user-flow.

The user should clearly understand what it is that can be 'added', such as a scheduled item. If this is not readily apparent from the context, combine Add with the object. Add appears as a '+' symbol, which can be contained within a button if desired along with the word 'Add'.

Opposite: Remove

Approve

Indicates that the user grants permission or agrees.

Opposite: Reject

Back

Returns the user to the previous step in a user-flow sequence.

Back is represented as a secondary action button.

Cancel

Stops the user's current action and closes the component or item. Cancel offers a way for the user to back out and take no action.

Alert users to any negative consequences of stopping an action from progressing, such as data corruption or data loss.

Cancel is represented as a secondary action button or link.

Clear

Removes data from a field or clears selections.

Clear appears as a text-based button with the word 'Clear'.

Clone

Creates a new item based on the information from an existing item.

Where appropriate, combine Clone with the object (for example, 'Clone flow' or 'Clone workset').

Close

Close ends the current page, window or menu, and can also be used to dismiss notifications.

The close icon appears as an 'X' on the upper right or right side of the element in question. Do not use 'Close' interchangeably with 'Cancel'.

Copy

Copies from something that exists to something else that also already exists.

Combine 'Copy' with the destination if there are multiple possibilities (for example, 'Copy to clipboard').

Create

Makes a new object or item.

The user should clearly understand what it is that they are creating. If this is not readily apparent from the context, combine 'Create' with the object. Do not use 'Create' interchangeably with 'Add'.

Opposite: Delete

Delete

Destroys an object or item so that it no longer exists.

This action is typically permanent and cannot be easily undone. Where appropriate, combine 'Delete' with the object or item (for example, 'Delete column').

Opposite: Create

Deploy

Installs and configures an application and its components on a planet. Makes the software available for use by users and other programs.

Opposite: Undeploy

Discard

Discards a draft for a new object, or a draft version with changes to an existing object, without saving.

'Discard' is appropriate when the user has not yet actively saved the object or item.

Download

Transfers data from a remote system to a local system.

Opposite: Upload

Edit

Enables users to change the data or values of an existing object.

A state change typically occurs with this action and any invalid changes result in an error notification. An edit icon appears as a pencil and can be used in different contexts, such as in a dropdown menu or in a table row.

Filter

Displays a list of objects that match the filter criteria.

Finish

Indicates the completion of a series of steps in a workflow or process, such as a wizard.

Log in (v.)

Used for entering a site or application.

Use 'Log in' instead of 'Sign in'. It's easier to distinguish from 'Sign up', which often appears side by side with these options.

Opposite: Log out

Login (adj.)

Refers to the login page or process and is treated as one word.

While the noun 'Login' can be used as an alternative to 'username', we recommend 'username'.

Log out (v.)

Used for exiting a site or application.

Use 'Log out' instead of 'Sign out'.

Opposite: Log in

Next

Advances the user to the next step in a user-flow sequence.

Next is represented as a primary action button.

OK

Confirms an action or acknowledges that an action has taken place.

In most cases, it's preferable to use a specific action verb rather than 'OK', which is vague and potentially misleading. Write as shown: two letters, both uppercase.

Please (adv.)

Avoid please except in the following situations:

• There's a problem that we can't help the user solve.
• The user is asked to do something inconvenient.
• The software is to blame for the situation.

Don't precede UI terms with please.

Reject

Indicates that the user refuses permission or does not approve.

Opposite: Approve

Remove

Removes an item or object from its current context without completely deleting it.

Opposite: Add

Save

Preserves changes made by the user to existing objects.

Save as

Creates a new object based on the current state of an existing object.

The user names the new object and typically assigns a location to it.

Sign up

Creates an account for the user or registers them in a system.

Use 'Sign up' instead of 'Register'.

Submit

Describes the action of sending data, such as claims information, in a form.

Undeploy

Removes an application and its components from a planet.

Opposite: Deploy

Upload

Sends data from a local system to a remote system.

Opposite: Download

View (v.)

Describes the act of accessing another page to see details.

When used as a noun, View represents an arrangement of data in the interface (for example, a list view).