EN ISO 9241-161:2025
(Main)Ergonomics of human-system interaction - Part 161: Visual user-interface elements (ISO 9241-161:2025)
Ergonomics of human-system interaction - Part 161: Visual user-interface elements (ISO 9241-161:2025)
This document specifies requirements and provides recommendations for the selection, usage and dependencies of visual user-interface elements and their application. This document is concerned with visual software components of interactive systems to make human-system interaction usable.
This document is applicable regardless of a fixed, portable or mobile interactive system, or cross-device use.
It does not provide detailed coverage of the methods and techniques required for design of visual user-interface elements. This document does not address implementation (e.g. graphical design of elements) and interaction details for specific input methods or technologies. It does not cover decorative user-interface elements that are intended to address solely aesthetic (hedonic) qualities in the user interface e.g. background images.
Ergonomie der Mensch-System-Interaktion - Teil 161: Leitfaden zu visuellen User-Interface-Elementen (ISO 9241‑161:2025)
Dieses Dokument legt Anforderungen und Empfehlungen zur Auswahl, Nutzung sowie zu Abhängigkeiten von visuellen Benutzungsschnittstellen-Elementen und deren Anwendung fest. Dieses Dokument behandelt visuelle Softwarekomponenten interaktiver Systeme, mit denen die Mensch-System-Interaktion nutzbar gemacht wird.
Dieses Dokument ist unabhängig davon anwendbar, ob es sich um ein festes, tragbares oder mobiles interaktives System oder eine geräteübergreifende Verwendung handelt.
Nicht ausführlich behandelt werden die Verfahren und Techniken, die für die Gestaltung von visuellen Benutzungsschnittstellen-Elementen erforderlich sind. Dieses Dokument behandelt nicht Einzelheiten der Implementierung (z. B. graphische Gestaltung von Elementen) und Einzelheiten der Interaktion hinsichtlich spezifischer Eingabeverfahren oder -technologien. Es umfasst nicht dekorative Benutzungsschnittstellen-Elemente, die lediglich für ästhetische (hedonische) Eigenschaften der Benutzungsschnittstelle vorgesehen sind, z. B. Hintergrundbilder.
Ergonomie de l'interaction homme-système - Partie 161: Éléments visuels de l'interface utilisateur (ISO 9241-161:2025)
Le présent document spécifie les exigences et donne des recommandations concernant la sélection, l'usage et les relations entre les éléments visuels de l'interface utilisateur et leur application. Le présent document traite des composants logiciels visuels des systèmes interactifs permettant de rendre l'interaction homme-système utilisable.
Le présent document s'applique, que le système interactif soit fixe, portatif ou mobile, ou qu'il s'agisse d'une utilisation multi-dispositifs.
Elle ne couvre pas de façon détaillée les méthodes et les techniques requises pour la conception des éléments visuels de l'interface utilisateur. Le présent document ne traite pas des détails de l'implémentation (par exemple: conception graphique des éléments) et de l'interaction pour des méthodes d'entrée ou des technologies spécifiques. Il ne couvre pas les éléments décoratifs de l'interface utilisateur qui sont uniquement destinés à traiter des qualités esthétiques (hédoniques) de l'interface utilisateur, par exemple: les images en arrière-plan.
Ergonomija medsebojnega vpliva človek-sistem - 161. del: Navodilo za vizualne elemente uporabniških vmesnikov (ISO 9241-161:2025)
General Information
- Status
- Published
- Publication Date
- 16-Dec-2025
- Technical Committee
- CEN/TC 122 - Ergonomics
- Drafting Committee
- CEN/TC 122/WG 5 - Ergonomics of human-computer interaction
- Current Stage
- 6060 - Definitive text made available (DAV) - Publishing
- Start Date
- 17-Dec-2025
- Completion Date
- 17-Dec-2025
Relations
- Effective Date
- 19-Jan-2023
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 09-Feb-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Consolidated By
ISO 9241-161:2025 - Ergonomics of human-system interaction — Part 161: Visual user-interface elements - Effective Date
- 12-Feb-2026
Overview
EN ISO 9241-161:2025 - Ergonomics of human-system interaction - Part 161: Visual user-interface elements, published by CEN, sets out requirements and recommendations for the selection, usage, and dependencies of visual user-interface (UI) elements in interactive systems. Focused on the ergonomic aspects, this standard is designed to help organizations develop software user interfaces that are usable, accessible, and consistent regardless of device type, whether fixed, portable, mobile, or in cross-device environments.
By supporting the optimal use of visual components, EN ISO 9241-161:2025 helps ensure that interactive systems are intuitive and user-friendly, contributing to increased usability, reduced user errors, and improved satisfaction. This standard supersedes the 2016 edition and represents the latest international consensus on visual UI elements.
Key Topics
EN ISO 9241-161:2025 addresses several critical elements of visual user-interface design for interactive systems:
- Requirements and recommendations for the selection and application of visual UI elements, considering user needs and ergonomic principles.
- Description and categorization of essential visual UI components, such as buttons, sliders, accordions, avatars, badges, breadcrumb trails, check boxes, combo boxes, date pickers, dialogue boxes, dropdown lists, entry fields, maps, groups, handles, hierarchical lists, implicit designators, instructive information, input tokenizers, and labels.
- Dependencies and composition of visual elements, focusing on how they function together within an interface.
- Accessibility considerations to ensure that visual UI elements are usable by all, including individuals with disabilities.
- Usability focus by providing guidance aimed at supporting efficiency, effectiveness, and satisfaction in interactive system use.
The standard does not provide detailed design techniques, graphical implementation details, or address purely decorative UI elements intended only for aesthetic value.
Applications
EN ISO 9241-161:2025 is relevant to a broad range of stakeholders involved in interactive system development, including:
- Software developers and UI designers: For creating or assessing software interfaces across platforms and devices.
- Quality assurance teams: To evaluate software for usability and compliance with ergonomic principles.
- Project managers and product owners: For integrating ergonomic requirements into design and development workflows.
- Accessibility professionals: To ensure that product interfaces meet inclusive design guidelines.
- Procurement and compliance officers: For specifying requirements in contracts or tenders on software solutions.
Typical usage scenarios include enterprise software development, consumer mobile applications, website design, public information systems, industrial control interfaces, and any context where human-system interaction takes place. Adopting this standard helps minimize user training needs, reduce error rates, and improve productivity by facilitating clear, consistent, and accessible visual interface elements.
Related Standards
Organizations and professionals implementing EN ISO 9241-161:2025 may also benefit from familiarity with related ergonomic and user-interface standards, such as:
- EN ISO 9241 series: Comprehensive guidance on the ergonomics of human-system interaction, particularly:
- EN ISO 9241-110: Dialogue principles
- EN ISO 9241-112: Information presentation
- EN ISO 9241-171: Guidance on software accessibility
- ISO/IEC 25010: Systems and software engineering - Systems and software Quality Requirements and Evaluation (SQuaRE) - System and software quality models
- WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines): For accessibility best practices in online and software environments
Practical Value
By adopting EN ISO 9241-161:2025, organizations ensure that their interactive systems support usability, accessibility, and overall user satisfaction. This not only benefits end-users but also enhances brand reputation, regulatory compliance, and market competitiveness in a user-centric digital world.
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Frequently Asked Questions
EN ISO 9241-161:2025 is a standard published by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). Its full title is "Ergonomics of human-system interaction - Part 161: Visual user-interface elements (ISO 9241-161:2025)". This standard covers: This document specifies requirements and provides recommendations for the selection, usage and dependencies of visual user-interface elements and their application. This document is concerned with visual software components of interactive systems to make human-system interaction usable. This document is applicable regardless of a fixed, portable or mobile interactive system, or cross-device use. It does not provide detailed coverage of the methods and techniques required for design of visual user-interface elements. This document does not address implementation (e.g. graphical design of elements) and interaction details for specific input methods or technologies. It does not cover decorative user-interface elements that are intended to address solely aesthetic (hedonic) qualities in the user interface e.g. background images.
This document specifies requirements and provides recommendations for the selection, usage and dependencies of visual user-interface elements and their application. This document is concerned with visual software components of interactive systems to make human-system interaction usable. This document is applicable regardless of a fixed, portable or mobile interactive system, or cross-device use. It does not provide detailed coverage of the methods and techniques required for design of visual user-interface elements. This document does not address implementation (e.g. graphical design of elements) and interaction details for specific input methods or technologies. It does not cover decorative user-interface elements that are intended to address solely aesthetic (hedonic) qualities in the user interface e.g. background images.
EN ISO 9241-161:2025 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 35.180 - IT Terminal and other peripheral equipment. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.
EN ISO 9241-161:2025 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to EN ISO 9241-161:2016, EN ISO 5210:2017, EN 82079-1:2012, EN 894-2:1997+A1:2008, ISO 9241-161:2025. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.
EN ISO 9241-161:2025 is available in PDF format for immediate download after purchase. The document can be added to your cart and obtained through the secure checkout process. Digital delivery ensures instant access to the complete standard document.
Standards Content (Sample)
SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-marec-2026
Nadomešča:
SIST EN ISO 9241-161:2016
Ergonomija medsebojnega vpliva človek-sistem - 161. del: Navodilo za vizualne
elemente uporabniških vmesnikov (ISO 9241-161:2025)
Ergonomics of human-system interaction - Part 161: Guidance on visual user-interface
elements (ISO 9241-161:2025)
Ergonomie der Mensch-System-Interaktion - Teil 161: Leitfaden zu visuellen User-
Interface-Elementen (ISO 9241-161:2025)
Ergonomie de l'interaction homme-système - Partie 161: ignes directrices relatives aux
éléments visuels de l'interface utilisateur (ISO 9241-161:2025)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN ISO 9241-161:2025
ICS:
13.180 Ergonomija Ergonomics
35.180 Terminalska in druga IT Terminal and other
periferna oprema IT peripheral equipment
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
EN ISO 9241-161
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
December 2025
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 35.180 Supersedes EN ISO 9241-161:2016
English Version
Ergonomics of human-system interaction - Part 161:
Visual user-interface elements (ISO 9241-161:2025)
Ergonomie de l'interaction homme-système - Partie Ergonomie der Mensch-System-Interaktion - Teil 161:
161: Éléments visuels de l'interface utilisateur (ISO Leitfaden zu visuellen User-Interface-Elementen (ISO
9241-161:2025) 9241-161:2025)
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 14 December 2025.
CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this
European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management
Centre has the same status as the official versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2025 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN ISO 9241-161:2025 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.
Contents Page
European foreword . 3
European foreword
This document (EN ISO 9241-161:2025) has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 159
"Ergonomics" in collaboration with Technical Committee CEN/TC 122 “Ergonomics” the secretariat of
which is held by DIN.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by June 2026, and conflicting national standards shall be
withdrawn at the latest by June 2026.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document supersedes EN ISO 9241-161:2016.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national standards
body/national committee. A complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CEN website.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,
Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of
North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and the
United Kingdom.
Endorsement notice
The text of ISO 9241-161:2025 has been approved by CEN as EN ISO 9241-161:2025 without any
modification.
International
Standard
ISO 9241-161
Second edition
Ergonomics of human-system
2025-12
interaction —
Part 161:
Visual user-interface elements
Ergonomie de l'interaction homme-système —
Partie 161: Éléments visuels de l'interface utilisateur
Reference number
ISO 9241-161:2025(en) © ISO 2025
ISO 9241-161:2025(en)
© ISO 2025
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
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Phone: +41 22 749 01 11
Email: copyright@iso.org
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii
ISO 9241-161:2025(en)
Contents Page
Foreword .x
Introduction .xi
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Accessibility . 3
5 Compositions of visual user-interface elements . 3
6 Relationship of input techniques and visual user-interface elements . 4
7 States of visual user-interface elements . 4
8 Describing visual user-interface elements . 5
9 Visual user-interface elements . 6
9.1 Accordion .6
9.1.1 Description .6
9.1.2 Components .6
9.1.3 States . .7
9.1.4 When to use an accordion .7
9.1.5 How to use an accordion .8
9.2 Analogue form element or slider .8
9.2.1 Description .8
9.2.2 Components .8
9.2.3 States . .8
9.2.4 When to use an analogue form element .8
9.2.5 How to use an analogue form element .9
9.3 Avatar .9
9.3.1 Description .9
9.3.2 Components .9
9.3.3 States . .9
9.3.4 When to use an avatar .10
9.3.5 How to use an avatar .10
9.4 Badge .10
9.4.1 Description .10
9.4.2 Components .10
9.4.3 States . .11
9.4.4 When to use a badge .11
9.4.5 How to use a badge .11
9.5 Breadcrumb .11
9.5.1 Description .11
9.5.2 Components .11
9.5.3 States . . 12
9.5.4 When to use a breadcrumb . 12
9.5.5 How to use a breadcrumb . 12
9.6 Button (push button, command button) . 12
9.6.1 Description . 12
9.6.2 Components . 13
9.6.3 States . . 13
9.6.4 When to use a button . 13
9.6.5 How to use a button . 13
9.7 Carousel and carrousel . 13
9.7.1 Description . 13
9.7.2 Components .14
9.7.3 States . .14
iii
ISO 9241-161:2025(en)
9.7.4 When to use a carousel .14
9.7.5 How to use a carousel . 15
9.8 Check box . 15
9.8.1 Description . 15
9.8.2 Components . 15
9.8.3 States . . 15
9.8.4 When to use a check box.16
9.8.5 How to use a check box .16
9.9 Collapsible container .16
9.9.1 Description .16
9.9.2 Components .16
9.9.3 States . .17
9.9.4 When to use a collapsible container.17
9.9.5 How to use a collapsible container .17
9.10 Colour picker .17
9.10.1 Description .17
9.10.2 Components .18
9.10.3 States . .18
9.10.4 When to use a colour picker .18
9.10.5 How to use a colour picker . .18
9.11 Combination box (combo box) .18
9.11.1 Description .18
9.11.2 Components .18
9.11.3 States . .19
9.11.4 When to use a combination box .19
9.11.5 How to use a combination box . 20
9.12 Cursor . 20
9.12.1 Description . 20
9.12.2 Components . 20
9.12.3 States . . 20
9.12.4 When to use a cursor . 20
9.12.5 How to use a cursor . 20
9.13 Date picker. 20
9.13.1 Description . 20
9.13.2 Components .21
9.13.3 States . .21
9.13.4 When to use a date picker . 22
9.13.5 How to use a date picker . . 22
9.14 Dialogue box . 22
9.14.1 Description . 22
9.14.2 Components . 22
9.14.3 States . . 23
9.14.4 When to use a dialogue box . 23
9.14.5 How to use a dialogue box . 23
9.15 Disclosure. 23
9.15.1 Description . 23
9.15.2 Components . 23
9.15.3 States . .24
9.15.4 When to use a disclosure .24
9.15.5 How to use a disclosure .24
9.16 Dropdown list box and select .24
9.16.1 Description .24
9.16.2 Components .24
9.16.3 States . . 25
9.16.4 When to use a dropdown list box . 25
9.16.5 How to use a dropdown list box . 26
9.17 Entry field, input field and text box . 26
9.17.1 Description . 26
9.17.2 Components . 26
iv
ISO 9241-161:2025(en)
9.17.3 States . . 26
9.17.4 When to use an entry field. 26
9.17.5 How to use an entry field . 26
9.18 Entry field with dialogue button .27
9.18.1 Description .27
9.18.2 Components .27
9.18.3 States . .27
9.18.4 When to use an entry field with dialogue button .27
9.18.5 How to use an entry field with dialogue button .27
9.19 Geographical map .27
9.19.1 Description .27
9.19.2 Components .27
9.19.3 States . . 28
9.19.4 When to use a geographical map . 28
9.19.5 How to use a geographical map . 28
9.20 Group . 28
9.20.1 Description . 28
9.20.2 Components . 29
9.20.3 States . . 29
9.20.4 When to use a group . 29
9.20.5 How to use a group . 29
9.21 Handle . 30
9.21.1 Description . 30
9.21.2 Components . 30
9.21.3 States . . 30
9.21.4 When to use a handle . 30
9.21.5 How to use a handle . 30
9.22 Hierarchical list, tree view and tree list .31
9.22.1 Description .31
9.22.2 Components .31
9.22.3 States . .31
9.22.4 When to use a hierarchical list .32
9.22.5 How to use a hierarchical list .32
9.23 Implicit designator .32
9.23.1 Description .32
9.23.2 Components .32
9.23.3 States . .32
9.23.4 When to use an implicit designator .32
9.23.5 How to use an implicit designator .32
9.24 Instructive Information. 33
9.24.1 Description . 33
9.24.2 Components . 33
9.24.3 States . . 33
9.24.4 When to use instructive information . 33
9.24.5 How to use instructive information . 33
9.25 Input tokenizer . 34
9.25.1 Description . 34
9.25.2 Components . 34
9.25.3 States . . 34
9.25.4 When to use an input tokenizer . 34
9.25.5 How to use an input tokenizer . 35
9.26 Label . 35
9.26.1 Description . 35
9.26.2 Components . 35
9.26.3 States . . 35
9.26.4 When to use a label . 35
9.26.5 How to use a label . 35
9.27 Legend and chart key . 36
9.27.1 Description . 36
v
ISO 9241-161:2025(en)
9.27.2 Components . 36
9.27.3 States . . 36
9.27.4 When to use a legend . 36
9.27.5 How to use a legend . 36
9.28 Link and hyperlink . 36
9.28.1 Description . 36
9.28.2 Components .37
9.28.3 States . .37
9.28.4 When to use a link .37
9.28.5 How to use a link .37
9.29 List box . 38
9.29.1 Description . 38
9.29.2 Components . 38
9.29.3 States . . 38
9.29.4 When to use a list box . 39
9.29.5 How to use a list box. 39
9.30 List and menu button . 39
9.30.1 Description . 39
9.30.2 Components . 39
9.30.3 States . . 40
9.30.4 When to use a list button .
...
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