Button changing it's text & action. Good or terrible?





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enter image description here
After the user Registers for an event (he goes to cart and pays, etc.) the next time he visits the page, the event for which he registered now shows a less emphasized Unregister button, which does the exact opposite of what it did until the event was purchased.



Is it a good practice to have the same button change it's function or is it bad and confusing?



Update:

If it helps anyone, I went with this layout:
enter image description here









share































    7















    enter image description here
    After the user Registers for an event (he goes to cart and pays, etc.) the next time he visits the page, the event for which he registered now shows a less emphasized Unregister button, which does the exact opposite of what it did until the event was purchased.



    Is it a good practice to have the same button change it's function or is it bad and confusing?



    Update:

    If it helps anyone, I went with this layout:
    enter image description here









    share



























      7












      7








      7


      1






      enter image description here
      After the user Registers for an event (he goes to cart and pays, etc.) the next time he visits the page, the event for which he registered now shows a less emphasized Unregister button, which does the exact opposite of what it did until the event was purchased.



      Is it a good practice to have the same button change it's function or is it bad and confusing?



      Update:

      If it helps anyone, I went with this layout:
      enter image description here









      share
















      enter image description here
      After the user Registers for an event (he goes to cart and pays, etc.) the next time he visits the page, the event for which he registered now shows a less emphasized Unregister button, which does the exact opposite of what it did until the event was purchased.



      Is it a good practice to have the same button change it's function or is it bad and confusing?



      Update:

      If it helps anyone, I went with this layout:
      enter image description here







      usability interaction-design layout design-patterns information-design





      share














      share












      share



      share








      edited 4 hours ago







      Dennis Novac

















      asked 7 hours ago









      Dennis NovacDennis Novac

      1444




      1444






















          2 Answers
          2






          active

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          13














          You can change the button to reflect the only available action, but separate the display of state.



          In your example, you replace the button label with the only available action: that of reverting (unregistering).



          Where it starts to get a little confusing is you have a checkmark icon next to the button label.



          One approach is to separate them. Emphasize the state 'You are attending' from the action.



          Since the primary action when scanning the list is Register, you can make the Unregister button more subtle.



          enter image description here



          Depending on the business goals, if you need to deemphasize the act of unregistering, you can perhaps make a subtle link.



          enter image description here



          This example emphasizes the current state 'Attending' so it's clear at a glance.



          This also uses distinct language to more clearly differentiate state from action.






          share|improve this answer


























          • Even though having Unregister as small and subtle as possible would be great for business goals, it just doesn't fit the overall view and idea of the page. Probably will use this version: prntscr.com/na9sd2

            – Dennis Novac
            5 hours ago











          • @DennisNovac Thanks for the feedback... Button / action size is just a graphic suggestion. The main emphasis I wanted to impart is clarity between state and action.

            – Mike M
            5 hours ago





















          2














          Do not "less emphasize" it!



          These are two different buttons with two different functionalities that are EQUALLY important.



          There is nothing wrong with having the "Unregister" button replacing the "Register" button, but do not "less emphasize" it.



          I actually got confused when I saw the greyed out "Unregister" button with a check-mark next to it. Only after I further read your question I understood why this button looks like that.



          Recommendations:




          • Show something like "Already registered" label (with the check-mark maybe) for users who are already registered and coming back to revisits the page.

          • Display the "Unregister" button in blue just like the "Register" button and remove the check-mark that you added next to "Unregister".


          I understand that you are trying to discourage Unregistering buy less-emphasizing the button, but that made it very confusing.





          UPDATE:



          I just noticed Mike's answer (I think it was posted a couple minutes before mine). I echo his idea: "Depending on the business goals, if you need to deemphasize the act of unregistering, you can perhaps make a subtle link".



          END OF UPDATE






          share|improve this answer





















          • 2





            Well I don't see anything that horrible about making a button less noticeable, in case you want users to use it less often. Am I missing something?

            – Dennis Novac
            5 hours ago






          • 1





            Yes, it is not wrong to make a button less noticeable, but not the way it is done in your question. It is confusing. The button looks disabled and the check-mark made it even more confusing. The reason I added the update section in my answer was to express that I like the idea of using the subtle link as a good way to less emphasize the option. However, making it confusing and hard to achieve is wrong.

            – Mo'ath
            4 hours ago












          Your Answer








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          2 Answers
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          active

          oldest

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          2 Answers
          2






          active

          oldest

          votes









          active

          oldest

          votes






          active

          oldest

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          13














          You can change the button to reflect the only available action, but separate the display of state.



          In your example, you replace the button label with the only available action: that of reverting (unregistering).



          Where it starts to get a little confusing is you have a checkmark icon next to the button label.



          One approach is to separate them. Emphasize the state 'You are attending' from the action.



          Since the primary action when scanning the list is Register, you can make the Unregister button more subtle.



          enter image description here



          Depending on the business goals, if you need to deemphasize the act of unregistering, you can perhaps make a subtle link.



          enter image description here



          This example emphasizes the current state 'Attending' so it's clear at a glance.



          This also uses distinct language to more clearly differentiate state from action.






          share|improve this answer


























          • Even though having Unregister as small and subtle as possible would be great for business goals, it just doesn't fit the overall view and idea of the page. Probably will use this version: prntscr.com/na9sd2

            – Dennis Novac
            5 hours ago











          • @DennisNovac Thanks for the feedback... Button / action size is just a graphic suggestion. The main emphasis I wanted to impart is clarity between state and action.

            – Mike M
            5 hours ago


















          13














          You can change the button to reflect the only available action, but separate the display of state.



          In your example, you replace the button label with the only available action: that of reverting (unregistering).



          Where it starts to get a little confusing is you have a checkmark icon next to the button label.



          One approach is to separate them. Emphasize the state 'You are attending' from the action.



          Since the primary action when scanning the list is Register, you can make the Unregister button more subtle.



          enter image description here



          Depending on the business goals, if you need to deemphasize the act of unregistering, you can perhaps make a subtle link.



          enter image description here



          This example emphasizes the current state 'Attending' so it's clear at a glance.



          This also uses distinct language to more clearly differentiate state from action.






          share|improve this answer


























          • Even though having Unregister as small and subtle as possible would be great for business goals, it just doesn't fit the overall view and idea of the page. Probably will use this version: prntscr.com/na9sd2

            – Dennis Novac
            5 hours ago











          • @DennisNovac Thanks for the feedback... Button / action size is just a graphic suggestion. The main emphasis I wanted to impart is clarity between state and action.

            – Mike M
            5 hours ago
















          13












          13








          13







          You can change the button to reflect the only available action, but separate the display of state.



          In your example, you replace the button label with the only available action: that of reverting (unregistering).



          Where it starts to get a little confusing is you have a checkmark icon next to the button label.



          One approach is to separate them. Emphasize the state 'You are attending' from the action.



          Since the primary action when scanning the list is Register, you can make the Unregister button more subtle.



          enter image description here



          Depending on the business goals, if you need to deemphasize the act of unregistering, you can perhaps make a subtle link.



          enter image description here



          This example emphasizes the current state 'Attending' so it's clear at a glance.



          This also uses distinct language to more clearly differentiate state from action.






          share|improve this answer















          You can change the button to reflect the only available action, but separate the display of state.



          In your example, you replace the button label with the only available action: that of reverting (unregistering).



          Where it starts to get a little confusing is you have a checkmark icon next to the button label.



          One approach is to separate them. Emphasize the state 'You are attending' from the action.



          Since the primary action when scanning the list is Register, you can make the Unregister button more subtle.



          enter image description here



          Depending on the business goals, if you need to deemphasize the act of unregistering, you can perhaps make a subtle link.



          enter image description here



          This example emphasizes the current state 'Attending' so it's clear at a glance.



          This also uses distinct language to more clearly differentiate state from action.







          share|improve this answer














          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer








          edited 7 hours ago

























          answered 7 hours ago









          Mike MMike M

          11.8k12534




          11.8k12534













          • Even though having Unregister as small and subtle as possible would be great for business goals, it just doesn't fit the overall view and idea of the page. Probably will use this version: prntscr.com/na9sd2

            – Dennis Novac
            5 hours ago











          • @DennisNovac Thanks for the feedback... Button / action size is just a graphic suggestion. The main emphasis I wanted to impart is clarity between state and action.

            – Mike M
            5 hours ago





















          • Even though having Unregister as small and subtle as possible would be great for business goals, it just doesn't fit the overall view and idea of the page. Probably will use this version: prntscr.com/na9sd2

            – Dennis Novac
            5 hours ago











          • @DennisNovac Thanks for the feedback... Button / action size is just a graphic suggestion. The main emphasis I wanted to impart is clarity between state and action.

            – Mike M
            5 hours ago



















          Even though having Unregister as small and subtle as possible would be great for business goals, it just doesn't fit the overall view and idea of the page. Probably will use this version: prntscr.com/na9sd2

          – Dennis Novac
          5 hours ago





          Even though having Unregister as small and subtle as possible would be great for business goals, it just doesn't fit the overall view and idea of the page. Probably will use this version: prntscr.com/na9sd2

          – Dennis Novac
          5 hours ago













          @DennisNovac Thanks for the feedback... Button / action size is just a graphic suggestion. The main emphasis I wanted to impart is clarity between state and action.

          – Mike M
          5 hours ago







          @DennisNovac Thanks for the feedback... Button / action size is just a graphic suggestion. The main emphasis I wanted to impart is clarity between state and action.

          – Mike M
          5 hours ago















          2














          Do not "less emphasize" it!



          These are two different buttons with two different functionalities that are EQUALLY important.



          There is nothing wrong with having the "Unregister" button replacing the "Register" button, but do not "less emphasize" it.



          I actually got confused when I saw the greyed out "Unregister" button with a check-mark next to it. Only after I further read your question I understood why this button looks like that.



          Recommendations:




          • Show something like "Already registered" label (with the check-mark maybe) for users who are already registered and coming back to revisits the page.

          • Display the "Unregister" button in blue just like the "Register" button and remove the check-mark that you added next to "Unregister".


          I understand that you are trying to discourage Unregistering buy less-emphasizing the button, but that made it very confusing.





          UPDATE:



          I just noticed Mike's answer (I think it was posted a couple minutes before mine). I echo his idea: "Depending on the business goals, if you need to deemphasize the act of unregistering, you can perhaps make a subtle link".



          END OF UPDATE






          share|improve this answer





















          • 2





            Well I don't see anything that horrible about making a button less noticeable, in case you want users to use it less often. Am I missing something?

            – Dennis Novac
            5 hours ago






          • 1





            Yes, it is not wrong to make a button less noticeable, but not the way it is done in your question. It is confusing. The button looks disabled and the check-mark made it even more confusing. The reason I added the update section in my answer was to express that I like the idea of using the subtle link as a good way to less emphasize the option. However, making it confusing and hard to achieve is wrong.

            – Mo'ath
            4 hours ago
















          2














          Do not "less emphasize" it!



          These are two different buttons with two different functionalities that are EQUALLY important.



          There is nothing wrong with having the "Unregister" button replacing the "Register" button, but do not "less emphasize" it.



          I actually got confused when I saw the greyed out "Unregister" button with a check-mark next to it. Only after I further read your question I understood why this button looks like that.



          Recommendations:




          • Show something like "Already registered" label (with the check-mark maybe) for users who are already registered and coming back to revisits the page.

          • Display the "Unregister" button in blue just like the "Register" button and remove the check-mark that you added next to "Unregister".


          I understand that you are trying to discourage Unregistering buy less-emphasizing the button, but that made it very confusing.





          UPDATE:



          I just noticed Mike's answer (I think it was posted a couple minutes before mine). I echo his idea: "Depending on the business goals, if you need to deemphasize the act of unregistering, you can perhaps make a subtle link".



          END OF UPDATE






          share|improve this answer





















          • 2





            Well I don't see anything that horrible about making a button less noticeable, in case you want users to use it less often. Am I missing something?

            – Dennis Novac
            5 hours ago






          • 1





            Yes, it is not wrong to make a button less noticeable, but not the way it is done in your question. It is confusing. The button looks disabled and the check-mark made it even more confusing. The reason I added the update section in my answer was to express that I like the idea of using the subtle link as a good way to less emphasize the option. However, making it confusing and hard to achieve is wrong.

            – Mo'ath
            4 hours ago














          2












          2








          2







          Do not "less emphasize" it!



          These are two different buttons with two different functionalities that are EQUALLY important.



          There is nothing wrong with having the "Unregister" button replacing the "Register" button, but do not "less emphasize" it.



          I actually got confused when I saw the greyed out "Unregister" button with a check-mark next to it. Only after I further read your question I understood why this button looks like that.



          Recommendations:




          • Show something like "Already registered" label (with the check-mark maybe) for users who are already registered and coming back to revisits the page.

          • Display the "Unregister" button in blue just like the "Register" button and remove the check-mark that you added next to "Unregister".


          I understand that you are trying to discourage Unregistering buy less-emphasizing the button, but that made it very confusing.





          UPDATE:



          I just noticed Mike's answer (I think it was posted a couple minutes before mine). I echo his idea: "Depending on the business goals, if you need to deemphasize the act of unregistering, you can perhaps make a subtle link".



          END OF UPDATE






          share|improve this answer















          Do not "less emphasize" it!



          These are two different buttons with two different functionalities that are EQUALLY important.



          There is nothing wrong with having the "Unregister" button replacing the "Register" button, but do not "less emphasize" it.



          I actually got confused when I saw the greyed out "Unregister" button with a check-mark next to it. Only after I further read your question I understood why this button looks like that.



          Recommendations:




          • Show something like "Already registered" label (with the check-mark maybe) for users who are already registered and coming back to revisits the page.

          • Display the "Unregister" button in blue just like the "Register" button and remove the check-mark that you added next to "Unregister".


          I understand that you are trying to discourage Unregistering buy less-emphasizing the button, but that made it very confusing.





          UPDATE:



          I just noticed Mike's answer (I think it was posted a couple minutes before mine). I echo his idea: "Depending on the business goals, if you need to deemphasize the act of unregistering, you can perhaps make a subtle link".



          END OF UPDATE







          share|improve this answer














          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer








          edited 6 hours ago

























          answered 7 hours ago









          Mo'athMo'ath

          655213




          655213








          • 2





            Well I don't see anything that horrible about making a button less noticeable, in case you want users to use it less often. Am I missing something?

            – Dennis Novac
            5 hours ago






          • 1





            Yes, it is not wrong to make a button less noticeable, but not the way it is done in your question. It is confusing. The button looks disabled and the check-mark made it even more confusing. The reason I added the update section in my answer was to express that I like the idea of using the subtle link as a good way to less emphasize the option. However, making it confusing and hard to achieve is wrong.

            – Mo'ath
            4 hours ago














          • 2





            Well I don't see anything that horrible about making a button less noticeable, in case you want users to use it less often. Am I missing something?

            – Dennis Novac
            5 hours ago






          • 1





            Yes, it is not wrong to make a button less noticeable, but not the way it is done in your question. It is confusing. The button looks disabled and the check-mark made it even more confusing. The reason I added the update section in my answer was to express that I like the idea of using the subtle link as a good way to less emphasize the option. However, making it confusing and hard to achieve is wrong.

            – Mo'ath
            4 hours ago








          2




          2





          Well I don't see anything that horrible about making a button less noticeable, in case you want users to use it less often. Am I missing something?

          – Dennis Novac
          5 hours ago





          Well I don't see anything that horrible about making a button less noticeable, in case you want users to use it less often. Am I missing something?

          – Dennis Novac
          5 hours ago




          1




          1





          Yes, it is not wrong to make a button less noticeable, but not the way it is done in your question. It is confusing. The button looks disabled and the check-mark made it even more confusing. The reason I added the update section in my answer was to express that I like the idea of using the subtle link as a good way to less emphasize the option. However, making it confusing and hard to achieve is wrong.

          – Mo'ath
          4 hours ago





          Yes, it is not wrong to make a button less noticeable, but not the way it is done in your question. It is confusing. The button looks disabled and the check-mark made it even more confusing. The reason I added the update section in my answer was to express that I like the idea of using the subtle link as a good way to less emphasize the option. However, making it confusing and hard to achieve is wrong.

          – Mo'ath
          4 hours ago


















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