Different Types of Messages

Different Message types should be displayed differently. I came across one website and I got to know that every webapplication and windows based application handle 4 main message types such as Information,Successful Operation, Warning Message and Error message. Each message type should be presented in a different color and different icon. A special message type represents Validation messages.

1.Information Messages

The purpose of information messages is to inform the user about something relevant. This should be presented in blue because people associate this color with information, Regardless of content. This could be any information relevant to a user action

Informational Messages
For example, info message can show help information regarding current user (Or) some tips.


2.Success messages

Success messages should be displayed after user successful performs an operation. By that I mean a complete operation – no partial operations and no errors. For example, the messagecan say: “Your profile has been saved successfully and confirmation mail has been sent to
email address you provided”. This means that each operation in this process ( saving profile and sending email) has been successfully performed.

Success Messages
To show this message type using its own colors and icons – green with a check mark icon


3.Warning Messages

Warning messages should be displayed to a user when an operation could not completed in a whole .For example “Your profile has been saved successfully,But But confirmation mail could not be sent to the email address you provided.” Or “If you dont finish your Profile now you wont be able to search jobs”. Usual warning color is yellow and icon exclamation.

4.Error messages

Error messages should be displayed when an operation could not be completed at all.For example , “Red is very suitable for this since people associate this color with an alert of any kind.

5. Validation Messages

This Article author noticed that many developers cant distinguish between validation and other message types ( such as error or warning messages). I saw many times that validation message is displayed as error message and caused confusion in the users's mind.

Validation is all about user input and should be treated that way. ASP.NET has built in controls that enable full control over user input. The purpose of validation is to force a user to enter all required fields or to enter in the correct format. Therefore it should be clear that the form will not be submitted if these rules are not matched.
That's why I like to style validation messages in a slightly less intensive red than error messages and use a red exclamation icon.