User interface copy

User interface (UI) copy is all the user-facing text in an interface, such as buttons, titles, error messages, and notifications.

User interfaces speak to users through UI copy, and UI copy allows users to speak back by guiding them to the desired action. For example, in a confirmation dialog, the question “Download package?” asks the user if they want to move forward with an action. This question would be followed by a button, “Download package,” that allows the user to confirm the action.

When a person interacts with a UI, they’re in conversation with it. This conversation influences the person’s feelings about the UI. If UI copy is useful, easily scanned, and action-oriented, users can more easily navigate, explore, and troubleshoot, and they’ll feel better about using the product.

📄️ Writing principles for UI copy

Without UI copy, users wouldn't be able to use or interact with applications. But writing UI copy without considering the user-facing impact of each word is almost as bad as having no UI copy at all.

📄️ Buttons

A button, also known as a call-to-action (CTA), is a clickable control that initiates an action or changes a condition. Buttons allow users to take action.

📄️ Empty states

Empty states are used when a list, table, chart, or other UI element has no items to display.

📄️ Tooltips

For guidelines and best practices on creating tooltips, refer to Tooltips in the Unity Editor Design System.