Cart & Checkout
Field Design & Input Optimization
- Always Allow the “Enter” Key to Submit Forms #699.pdf
- Remove “Select” Features When There’s Only One Option Left #571.pdf
- Optimize All Checkout Steps for Browser Autofill #618.pdf
- Drop-Down Values Should Accommodate Keyboard Selection and Illustrate This Up-Front #670.pdf
- Ensure Proximity for Radio Buttons Through Collapsed Alignment or Through Encapsulation #705.pdf
- Use Localized Input Masks for Restricted Inputs #658.pdf
- Be Very Cautious When Using Custom Designed Selection UIs #669.pdf
- Limit the Use of Overlays To User-Initiated Actions #709.pdf
- Be Very Cautious if Restricting Field Input Characters and Formatting #659.pdf
- Make Newsletter Sign-Up Optional and Opt-In by Default #734.pdf
- Disable the Paste Functionality in any Second Email Verification Field or Remove the Field Entirely #663.pdf
- Present Autoselected and Prefilled Values in Open Input Fields #572.pdf
- Personalize the User’s Checkout Flow by Hiding Redundant Fields and Options #576.pdf
- Avoid Text-Distortion CAPTCHAs #679.pdf
- Make Inferred Selections Based on Users’ Previous Actions #554.pdf
- Prefill Related Fields if a Majority of Users Will Otherwise Retype Them #568.pdf
- Minimize the Number of Form Fields Users See by Default #668.pdf
- Never Make Users Perform the Same Selection or Typing Twice #555.pdf
- Include the Associated Labels in the Hit Areas for Checkboxes and Radio Buttons #660.pdf
- Choosing the Right Interface Type for Optional Inputs #674.pdf
Validation Errors & Data Persistence
- Autocorrect Minor Address Errors #629.pdf
- Highlight the Address Validator’s Suggested Changes #627.pdf
- Allow Users to Override the Address Validator, but Clarify the Consequences #626.pdf
- Have an Address Validator #625.pdf
- Immediately Validate Users’ Form Field Entries #718.pdf
- Check Credit Card Validity as Users Submit the Payment Step #721.pdf
- Always Autoscroll Users to the Field with Errors or an “Error Summary” #719.pdf
- Use ‘Adaptive Error Messages’ that Match the User’s Specific Subissue #722.pdf
- How to Retain Data in the Sensitive Credit Card Fields #723.pdf
- Always Preserve Users’ Input on Errors #720.pdf
“Added to Cart” Behavior & Confirmation
- Display Identical Accidentally Added Products as Separate Items in the Cart #624.pdf
- Persist Cart Contents and Inform Users of any Changes to Cart Items #2157.pdf
- Always Feature Essential Product Details and the Product Thumbnail In the “Added to Cart” Overlay #1490.pdf
- Always Provide a Clear Path to “View Cart” in “Added to Cart” Confirmations #603.pdf
- Avoid Using “In-Between” Pages after Users Add Items to Their Cart #602.pdf
- Ensure Cross-Sells in “Added to Cart” Overlays Are Styled as Secondary Content #600.pdf
- Avoid Prematurely Closing the Drop-Down Cart and Carefully Design Its Interactive Features #601.pdf
Shopping Cart Interface & Layout
- Avoid Overly Prominent Ads in the Cart #2139.pdf
- Always Link Cart Items to Their Product Pages #2160.pdf
- Place Saved Items at the Bottom of the Cart Page #2154.pdf
- Use Buttons or Buttons Plus an Open Text Field for Updating Cart Quantity #2151.pdf
- Provide a “Save for Later” Feature in the Cart #622.pdf
- Always Provide Large Thumbnails and Key Product Details in the Cart #620.pdf
- Always Integrate “Free Shipping” Information in the Cart Order Cost Summary #2320.pdf
- Always Provide the Full Order Cost, or an Estimate, in the Cart #732.pdf
Gifting Flow & Features
- Always Allow Users to Designate Gifting in the Cart Step and Later in Checkout #645.pdf
- Customize the Checkout Flow and Options for Gift-Marked Orders #647.pdf
- Make It Clear if It’s the Sender’s or Recipient’s “Phone” and “Email” that Are Requested for Gift-Marked Orders #649.pdf
- Always Explain All Gifting Features in Detail #646.pdf
- Allow Users to Place Gift Orders #650.pdf
Payment Flow & Methods (Incl. Credit Card & Third-Party)
- Save “Guest” Users’ Previously Entered Credit Card Information for the Entire Checkout Session #583.pdf
- Support Users Entering Data from a Physical Credit Card #2441.pdf
- Autoformat Spaces in the “Credit Card Number” Field #594.pdf
- Luhn Validate the Credit Card Number Field #582.pdf
- Provide a Scannable Summary of Key Financing Details #2381.pdf
- Provide Payment Schedule, Interest Rate, and Credit Score Information for Financing Options #2378.pdf
- Make International Users’ Local Currency the Default Selection #589.pdf
- Use Precise Primary Button Microcopy that Clarifies if a Credit Card Order Will Be Finalized at the Payment Step #586.pdf
- Dynamically Update the Primary Button at the Payment Step for Third-Party Payment Selections #672.pdf
- Always Hide Coupon & Promotional Fields Behind a Link #615.pdf
- Consider Autoapplying Discounts and Applicable Promo Codes When Possible #2340.pdf
- Avoid Multi-Step Gift Card Redemption Flows #617.pdf
- Avoid Automatically Funneling Users into Third-Party Payment Flows #2363.pdf
- Always Provide One or More Third-Party Payment Options #671.pdf
- Consider Selecting the Most Popular Payment Method by Default #2360.pdf
Field Labels & Microcopy
- Optimize Microcopy to Support Skimming #689.pdf
- Dynamically Merge Potentially Contradictory Microcopy #690.pdf
- Avoid Jargon and Brand Names in the Checkout Microcopy #694.pdf
- Place Field Labels Above Their Respective Fields #685.pdf
- Provide Tooltips for Unconventional Features, Fields, or Selections #681.pdf
- Always Display Persistent Field Labels #683.pdf
- Mark Both Required and Optional Fields #686.pdf
Cross-Sells
- Adapt Cross-Sell Suggestions and Promotions Strongly to the User’s Current Context #578.pdf
- Avoid Overly Aggressive Cross-Selling and Promotions During Checkout #579.pdf
- Always Make Associated Costs for Special Offers and Promotions Visible by Default #581.pdf
Shipping & Fulfillment
- Customize the Checkout Flow for ‘Store Pickup’ #635.pdf
- Ensure the Store Locator Indicates the Stock Status of Items Selected for Pickup #2326.pdf
- Always Provide a Map in the Store Locator Feature #2329.pdf
- Use IP Geotargeting to Suggest the Nearest Store for In-Store Pickup #634.pdf
- Always Fully Describe Alternative Fulfillment Options #631.pdf
- Include All Fulfillment Options in the Shipping-Selector Interface #632.pdf
- Show Order Cutoff Time as a Countdown #548.pdf
- Use “Delivery Date” Instead of “Delivery Speed” #543.pdf
- Clearly Associate Each Shipping Option with Its Relevant Cost and Delivery Details #2278.pdf
- Present All Shipping Options Directly on the Page #547.pdf
- Always Provide Costs Upfront for Every Shipping Option in the Shipping-Selection Interface #544.pdf
Customer & Address Information
- Autodetect City and State Immediately After Zip Code is Provided #561.pdf
- Provide a “Fully Automatic Address Lookup” Feature #2266.pdf
- Consider Providing an Option for Text Message Order Notifications #2263.pdf
- Avoid or Clarify “Address Type” Selections #564.pdf
- Hide “Address Line 2” Behind a Link #562.pdf
- Use IP Geotargeting to Preselect the User’s Country #573.pdf
- Use an Autocomplete Country Selector #560.pdf
- Use a Single ‘Full Name’ Field #557.pdf
- Have a Single Phone Field #558.pdf
- Update the Address Fields to Match Country-Specific Conditions for International Orders #565.pdf
- Use “Shipping Address” as “Billing Address” by Default #566.pdf
- Explain Why the “Phone Number” Field Is Required #731.pdf
Order Review & Confirmation
- Include the Full Order Details in the Confirmation Email #597.pdf
- Display the Full Order Details on the Confirmation Step #596.pdf
- Ensure the Order Review Step Provides a Comprehensive Summary of Users’ Order Information #551.pdf
- Avoid Presenting Important New Information at the Review Step #2384.pdf
- Always Provide a Running Order Summary That Includes Key Order Details for Multistep Checkouts #687.pdf
- Optimize the Review Step for Skimming #545.pdf
- Have a “Place Order” Button Above the Fold at the Review Step #556.pdf
- For Multistep Checkouts, Allow Users to Edit Data Directly at the Review Step #552.pdf
- Always Collapse Completed Accordion Steps into Summaries #648.pdf
- Always Provide an Order Review Step for Multistep Checkouts #2387.pdf
Checkout Types & Layout
- Avoid “Apply” Buttons for Most Checkout Fields #727.pdf
- Use a Load Indicator and Update It after 20+ Seconds #707.pdf
- Reserve Checkout Timers for High-Demand Products #2447.pdf
- Visually Emphasize the Cart Link in the Sitewide Header #607.pdf
- Always Implement Process Steps as Links #613.pdf
- Always Provide Accurate Process Steps for Multistep Processes #611.pdf
- Avoid Extensive Multicolumn Form Layouts #733.pdf
- Use an “Enclosed Checkout” Design #606.pdf
Account Selection & Creation
- Always Provide the Benefits of Creating an Account #640.pdf
- Always Allow Users to “Show Password” #665.pdf
- Display All Password-Creation Requirements Upfront #676.pdf
- Save Account Creation for the Confirmation Step #638.pdf
- Avoid Unnecessarily Complex Password-Creation Requirements #677.pdf
- Make “Guest Checkout” the Most Prominent Option #652.pdf
- Always Provide Users with a “Guest Checkout” Option #637.pdf