How to represent optional fields?

Question

I've read somewhere, that if you have more required fields than optional, best practice is to mark the optional form fields.

However I think that asterisk notation for required fields is a widely known pattern. The form will be used by novice/beginner web users, is the above statement (marking the optionals) still better?

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Update: @Janel: thanks for clarifying my question, I have to practice this language a little bit more, if I'd like to work abroad later :). It's important however that there are much more required fields than optional (if there would be eg. 3 optional and 4 required field, than I'll definitely mark the required ones - but there is 12 required and 5 optional fields on one page of the form)

Answer 1

Good question. There are two opposing considerations here:

1. Marking exceptional fields. You want to highlight the fields that aren't like the others. This way you can mark fewer fields in total and reduce visual noise added by each highlight.

2. Following convention by marking required fields. Since users are used to forms highlighting only the required fields (with an asterisk, for instance), suddenly flipping that model on its head could be counterintuitive.

I admit this is an interesting challenge. My approach would be to A/B test it and see which leads to better conversion. Forms are one of those bottleneck points where you can do some really accurate testing. I'd be curious to hear the results!

Answer 2

Since you have fewer optional fields than required, the best option here is to simply mark each optional item with the word 'optional'.

See Luke Wroblewskis comments on this topic Marking Required vs. Optional form fields

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Update: I had to share this: Whatever you do - don't do the following which I found at onlinerealestatesuccess.com:

Answer 3

Of course, lot's of red asterisks will add noise to form. But, I think that removing them from required fields will confuse users, which will inflict conversion rate of a form.

The only option here, is to write before the form something like "All fields are required, if otherwise isn't stated" and write "optional" near labels.

UXMovement article about this topic

Answer 4

I find that tagging a question as '(optional)' can be white noise -- especially if you're already using that familiar convention of denoting required fields with an asterisk. But as you've mentioned, if you have more required fields than optional, it can be useful. They can figure out that those without an asterisk are optional. Case in point: for the 2011 British census all but one question (on religion) was mandatory. In this instance they indicated 'this question is voluntary' (see below) to indicate that this was the only question on the multi-page survey that wasn't required.

But to contrast this thought there's the example of Ethn.io, where all fields on their screeners are optional, yet there's no guidance to say so. Yet, I'm always intrigued to see my recruits people filling in every field!

As Rahul mentioned, testing is the best way to gauge results. Even some quick hallway testing will net some great results!

Answer 5

I like to split the optional fields into a separate section, usually below, the mandatory fields; mixing up optional fields in between the mandatory fields, I suspect, increases completion times...

eg http://oscr.org.uk/meeting-our-requirements/how-to-complain-about-a-charity/charity-complaint/