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Popover

A popover is in-app messaging that provides more information on specific product areas. Popovers display content in a new window that overlays the current page. Unlike modals, popovers don't block the current page.

Usage

Popovers are commonly used on form field labels, page titles or headings, or table column headings. Use popovers to:

  • Anticipate and answer questions for the user.
  • Help explain unfamiliar terms.
  • Provide context around a task.
popover for an email address form field explaining what the email address is used for

When using a default popover to define a term or explain a concept, use a gray question-circle icon. Upon hover or click, the icon turns black.

Popover icon colors depending on state

To provide more information to a user without an accompanying UI element, you can add a popover to a linked question.

popover for a linked question

Use link button styling for the linked question, and add a blue question-circle icon before it. Clicking the link text triggers a popover, which answers the linked question.

alert popover opens when user clicks or hovers over an alert label

To provide additional information about an alert, use an alert popover. The alert popover will open upon hover or click.

When to use tooltips vs. popovers

Both tooltips and popovers provide more information in context for users. However, they’re different in a few ways:

  • Tooltips are used for identification purposes, while popovers are used for added description or information in context.
  • Tooltips contain short descriptions or labels, while popovers contain longer descriptions, formatted text, and optional images or links.
  • Tooltips appear on hover, while popovers appear on click.

For information on other forms of on-screen help, see Tooltip and Hint.

Variations

Default popovers

These popovers are plain-text and do not include icons. They are used to convey additional, non-imperative information to the user.

Alert popovers

These popover are similar to default popovers, the key difference being the inclusion of status-like headers for the following alert types: default, info, success, warning, and danger.

alert popover examples with placeholder text for the title and informational text

Behavior

Popovers are triggered when a user clicks on the popover icon and are dismissed in one of the following ways:

  • The user clicks the exit icon.
  • The user clicks anywhere on the screen outside the popover.
  • The user clicks an action button inside the popover. (Note: This won't always close the popover; it depends on the action button.)
popover example with placeholder text for the title and informational text

Content considerations

  • Popover copy is longer than tooltip copy, but it should still be concise. Aim for 1–3 sentences.
  • Write in full sentences with punctuation.
  • Include relevant links to documentation when necessary.
  • Use popovers for additional information. Don’t use popovers for information critical to a user completing a task, such as password character requirements.

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