10 Sorting UX Best Practices

Sorting is an important part of the user experience. It allows users to quickly find the information they need and helps them make sense of large amounts of data. But sorting can be tricky to implement correctly.

In this article, we’ll discuss 10 sorting UX best practices that will help you create a better user experience. We’ll cover topics such as sorting options, sorting order, and sorting speed. By following these best practices, you can ensure that your users can quickly and easily find the information they need.

1. Use the right sorting controls

The right sorting controls make it easy for users to find the information they need quickly and efficiently. If you use the wrong sorting controls, users may become frustrated or confused when trying to sort through data.

For example, if you’re displaying a list of products, you should provide sorting options such as price, popularity, and rating. This way, users can easily filter the list according to their preferences. Additionally, you should also include an option to reset the sorting so that users can start from scratch if needed.

2. Make it obvious how to sort

If users don’t know how to sort, they won’t be able to find the information they need.

To make sorting obvious, you should clearly label your sorting options and provide visual cues that indicate which option is currently selected. You can also use icons or other visuals to help users understand what each sorting option does. Additionally, it’s important to give users a way to reset their sorting preferences if needed.

3. Provide default sorting options

Default sorting options allow users to quickly find what they’re looking for without having to manually sort through the data. This is especially important when dealing with large datasets, as it can be time-consuming and tedious to manually sort through all of the information.

Additionally, providing default sorting options allows users to customize their experience by selecting a sorting option that best suits their needs. For example, if you are displaying a list of products, you could provide an option to sort them by price or popularity. This way, users can easily find the product they want without having to search through every item in the list.

4. Allow users to choose their own defaults

When users are presented with a list of items, they often want to sort them in a way that makes sense to them. By allowing users to choose their own defaults, you give them the power to customize their experience and make it more efficient for them. This can be done by providing sorting options such as alphabetical order, date added, or most popular.

By giving users control over how they view their data, you create an environment where they feel empowered and engaged. This leads to better user experiences and higher customer satisfaction.

5. Consider using multiple columns for sorting

When users are presented with a large list of items, they may want to sort the data in multiple ways. For example, if you have a list of products, a user might want to sort by price and then by rating. By using multiple columns for sorting, users can easily do this without having to manually rearrange the data.

Additionally, when using multiple columns for sorting, it’s important to make sure that each column is clearly labeled so that users know what type of data they’re sorting. This will help them quickly find the information they need and make their experience more efficient.

6. Keep the sorted column highlighted

When a user sorts a table, they need to know which column is currently being sorted. This helps them understand the order of the data and make sure that it’s what they expect.

Highlighting the sorted column also makes it easier for users to find the sorting controls. If they can’t remember which column was last sorted, they’ll be able to quickly identify it by looking for the highlighted column.

Finally, highlighting the sorted column gives users an indication of how many columns are sortable. If all columns are highlighted, then users will know that any column can be sorted.

7. Let users know when they’re viewing a subset of results

When users are presented with a large set of data, they may not be aware that their view is limited. This can lead to confusion and frustration when they don’t find what they’re looking for. By informing them that they’re viewing a subset of results, you give them the opportunity to adjust their search parameters or take other actions to get the full picture.

Additionally, it’s important to provide clear sorting options so that users can easily refine their searches. For example, if you have an ecommerce site, make sure your product pages include sorting options like price range, color, size, etc. This will help users quickly narrow down their choices and find exactly what they need.

8. Don’t forget about mobile

Mobile devices have smaller screens, which means that sorting options need to be presented in a way that is easy to access and understand.

For example, if you are offering users the ability to sort by price or date, make sure those options are clearly visible on mobile devices. Additionally, consider using icons instead of text labels for sorting options as this can help save space and make it easier for users to find what they’re looking for. Finally, don’t forget about touch gestures –– allowing users to swipe or tap to sort items can provide an intuitive experience.

9. Test your sorting UX

Testing your sorting UX allows you to identify any potential issues or problems with the user experience. It also helps you understand how users interact with and use the sorting feature, so that you can make improvements if needed.

Testing should include both usability testing (to see how easy it is for users to find what they’re looking for) and A/B testing (to compare different sorting options). This will help you determine which sorting option works best for your users and ensure that your sorting UX meets their needs.

10. Sort by relevance, not alphabetically

Alphabetical sorting is great for quickly finding a specific item, but it doesn’t take into account the user’s context or preferences.

For example, if you’re looking for a restaurant in your city, alphabetically sorted results won’t be very helpful because they don’t take into account things like distance from your current location, ratings, price range, etc. Relevance-based sorting takes all of these factors into account and presents the most relevant results first. This makes it easier for users to find what they’re looking for without having to scroll through pages of irrelevant results.