ISO 9241-161:2016

Overview

ISO 9241-161:2016 - Ergonomics of human-system interaction: Guidance on visual user-interface elements provides requirements and recommendations for selecting and using generic visual UI elements presented by software. It covers a comprehensive list of common interface components (e.g., accordions, sliders, carousels, check boxes, date pickers, dialog boxes, entry fields, maps and more), their states, compositions and application contexts. The standard is technology- and input-method-agnostic, applies to fixed, portable and mobile interactive systems, and is intended to be used together with other ISO 9241 guidance on dialogue techniques.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope and purpose: Guidance to make human–system interaction usable for basic interaction aspects; excludes implementation-level graphical design and purely decorative (hedonic) elements.
• List of visual UI elements: Detailed descriptions, components, states, when to use and how to use a wide range of generic elements (see the standard’s element-by-element entries).
• States and compositions: Defines element states (e.g., active, disabled) and how elements can be combined or derived.
• Selection and usage rules: Requirements and recommendations on choosing appropriate elements, considering dependencies and application contexts.
• Accessibility: Principles to support accessible interaction irrespective of platform or input method.
• Relationship to input methods: Describes how visual elements relate to different input techniques without prescribing implementation specifics.
• Guidance annex: Annex A provides a practical guide to selecting visual UI elements depending on application needs.

Practical applications and target users

ISO 9241-161 is valuable for:

• UX/UI designers who need evidence-based guidance on which elements to use for clarity, consistency and usability.
• Software developers and front-end engineers selecting components for cross-platform interfaces.
• Human factors / ergonomics and usability professionals conducting evaluations, usability tests and recommending improvements.
• Product managers and design leads planning screen layout, platform-specific aspects and interaction behavior.
• Accessibility specialists aligning visual UI choices with ergonomic accessibility objectives.

Use cases include component selection for enterprise software, mobile app UI patterns, web application forms, and evaluation checklists for consistent, usable interfaces.

Related standards

• Part of the ISO 9241 series (ergonomics of human–system interaction).
• Intended to be used with other ISO 9241 guidance on dialogue techniques and human-centred design guidance, and complements platform-specific design and accessibility regulations.

Keywords: ISO 9241-161, visual user-interface elements, ergonomics, human-system interaction, UI elements guidance, usability, accessibility, user-centred design.