Chats are a collection of UI elements that work together for messaging purposes in websites and mobile or software applications. It represents the design and the overall layout of a chat application – whether it is peer-to-peer messaging or chatbots. Chats support sending and receiving text messages, videos, documents, emojis, audio recordings, etc.
A UI chat needs to be accessible, as it is an essential element of any UI UX design. A chat box UI is an element that it is used by almost all users, so make sure that all the details regarding its features are understandable and satisfy your user's needs. Web chat UI is usually encountered on websites and app designs that give the users the possibility to communicate either with a company, with other users, or via email. Some chat UI examples can be Slack, Wathsupp, or Teams, where users communicate between each other. However, companies nowadays include a chat UI design for a better customer experience and relation.
Live Chat for Customer Support or Sales Assistance;
Chatbots.
How To Use Chats in UI/UX Design
The UI element chat is used to facilitate collaboration and communication between the users. Most users are already familiar with the behavior of messaging apps, so it’s best to stay near the universally recognizable layout when designing chats.
Message Preview: The message preview shows a summary of the content of all the messages sent or received in the chat box UI. It lets users see a preview of who they received the message from and what it contains before they open it. This can be a helpful feature for users when they do not know what the message might be from or when the users do not know what the text is about.
Input Field: UI Chat input fields are the base of implementing chats in UI design because this is where users type and send their messages. These fields should allow multiline editing because users should see the entire message before sending it.
Chat Bubbles: Chat box UI is the visual representation of the messages users send each other. Use different colors for the receiver and the sender’s message bubbles to help users distinguish between their messages. Pro Tip: Go for round the corners of the chat containers as they look more pleasing to the eye.
Buttons: Every UI chat should include a “send” button or icon indicating the action to be made – sending messages. You can use the keyboard’s support, such as the ‘Enter’ key, to allow users to submit messages without the need to reach for their mouse and click the button manually.
Timestamps: Chat-UI timestamps are UI elements crucial to display the time and date of a message – both when it was received and sent. They indicate the timeline, context, and chronological information.
Avatars: Avatars are UI elements that represent a thumbnail of a user or a business’ identity in the interface. It can display icons, images, or text and be used in any virtual environment – social media platforms, user accounts, etc.
Typing Indicator: Typing indicators are UI elements that are activated when the sender is currently typing a message. It helps avoid confusion and gives the receiver an idea of when they will receive a response. Use universally recognizable visual cues to indicate the presence of typing indicators – such as a little text with “User is typing” or an animated speech bubble.
Use the Chat UI Element in Your UI/UX Design With uinkits
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