One day, a tester approached me with a seemingly minor ask, sparking an interesting conversation about user experience (UX). She put it to me: “Hey Gwen, should we always keep this arrow (of selection component) pointing down or flexibly move it up and down according to the opened/closed dropdown menu?”
At first glance, it felt like a small detail in the grand scheme of design, but the more we discussed, the more we realized that this little arrow had the potential to impact user behavior and satisfaction.
That topic prompted me to investigate why certain dropdown menus employ arrows that change direction when opened or closed, whereas others always point downward. Or why, when components such as side menus are collapsed or expanded, the arrow icons can change direction left or right? Do the designers have any purposes for those behaviors?
As it turns out, there’s a lot more psychology and usability behind this choice than one might think. So, in this post, I’ll explore why arrow direction matters in dropdown menus, when to use a static arrow versus a flexible one, and how something as simple as an arrow can influence a user’s interaction with your design.
The Role of Dropdown Arrows in UX
In user experience design, the arrow can play multiple roles, depending on the circumstances, and it has a variety of meanings. It can focus our attention on a specific point, demonstrate action, indicate flow, and connect objects and information.
Back to the tester’s original question: Should the arrow change direction when the dropdown opens? Or should it remain fixed? I observed a few other famous platforms or products, such as Netflix, ChatGPT, and Facebook, etc. In my humble opinion, there are two common approaches, as below:
Arrow Stays Downward: Static Direction
In some designs, the arrow always points downward, regardless of whether the dropdown is open or closed. This is often done to keep the design clean and simple, especially when users can intuitively understand the dropdown’s function.
- When to Use This Approach:
- Minimalist or clean designs: If simplicity is the goal, keeping the arrow consistently downward prevents unnecessary visual changes.
- Obvious interactions: When the action (like opening a dropdown in a form) is obvious, simple, and familiar to users, additional visual feedback isn’t necessary. For example, a form field where users select a country or a language doesn’t need an arrow that changes direction; users already understand that clicking will reveal options.
- Reducing visual noise: In cases where the dropdown isn’t the main focus of the interface, maintaining the arrow’s position can reduce distraction.
- Examples:
- Form Fields: In simple forms, dropdowns for selecting dates, countries, or other standard options often feature arrows that always point downward, regardless of whether the dropdown is expanded or not.
- Navigation Menus: On websites with a top navigation bar, dropdowns for categories like “Services” or “Products” often retain a downward-pointing arrow for consistency.
Arrow Changes Direction: Flexible Visual Feedback
Another approach is to have the arrow point down when the dropdown is closed and switch to pointing upward when it opens. This visual feedback reinforces the open/closed state of the dropdown and helps users better understand the interaction, which indicates something will happen in the future.
- When to Use This Approach:
- Clearer visual feedback: When you want users to have a clearer understanding of the dropdown’s state, changing the arrow’s direction upon interaction provides immediate feedback. This is particularly useful for more complex interfaces.Complex or nested interactions: If a dropdown has multiple levels (such as an FAQ section with collapsible answers) or contains more complex content that requires a lot dynamic interactions, etc., an arrow that changes direction can help users quickly understand which sections are expanded.Reinforcing user expectations: Users often expect that an upward-pointing arrow signals a collapse or “closing” the current thing. Aligning with this expectation improves the user experience.
- Examples:
- E-commerce Filters: On product category pages, dropdowns for filters (like sorting by price or selecting a brand) often use arrows that change direction to signal which filters are expanded or collapsed.
- Accordions in FAQ Sections: Frequently asked questions (FAQ) sections often have collapsible elements. A question that’s clicked on to reveal its answer will typically have an arrow that switches from pointing down to pointing up, making it clear which questions are open.
The Psychology Behind Arrow Direction
So let’s talk about the psychology behind arrow direction to explain more details about why users often expect that an upward-pointing arrow signals a collapse or “closing” the current thing. Every day when you step out on the street, countless images, symbols, content, sounds, etc. bombard you. It would be difficult for our brains to fully process everything we see. Instead, the brain prioritizes certain information and directional cues that help us navigate through this visual overload. These signals serve as navigational signposts, directing us to the points that really matter. Similarly in design, according to Don Norman, signs are indicators or signals in design that tell users where an action will take place. The arrow, as a form of symbol, informs the user what can be done—specifically, whether that click will expand or collapse the content. This fits their natural mental model of interaction. So, what does this mean for dropdown arrows? Simply put, by using arrows as signifiers that change direction based on the state of the dropdown, you’re reinforcing the affordance of the UI, making the interaction intuitive and predictable. For more details, when an arrow points downward, users expect something to be revealed below. When the content is expanded, flipping the arrow to point upward aligns with users’ mental models, signaling that the content is now visible and can be collapsed. By aligning your design with these natural instincts, you create a smoother and more intuitive user experience. In other words, arrow direction helps users predict what will happen next, reinforcing the cognitive flow of interaction.
Let’s take Netflix as an example…
Netflix’s Profile Dropdown (Flexible Arrow)
When you click on the profile icon, the arrow changes from down to up. This is because:
- More Complex Interaction: The profile dropdown includes important options like account settings, logout, and profile switching. Users need to know clearly if the menu is open or closed, especially because these options are crucial and might impact their session.
- Immediate Feedback: Changing the arrow direction gives instant feedback about the state of the dropdown. This is useful for interactions that are more than just simple selection (e.g., account management, which requires user awareness of whether they’re viewing options or not).
Netflix’s Genre Selection (Static Arrow)
When you go to the TV Shows tab and click on the genre dropdown, the arrow stays down regardless of whether the dropdown is open or closed. Here’s why:
- Familiar interaction: Selecting genres is a straightforward action that users have seen in countless other interfaces. They already know that clicking on it will show the options, so there’s no need for extra feedback in the form of a changing arrow.
- No Critical State Change: Whether the dropdown is open or closed doesn’t require much attention from the user. Unlike the profile dropdown (which may affect account settings or preferences), the genre selection is a simple choice. Users don’t need to be reminded of the state because it’s not critical to their experience.
Summary of purpose differences
| Aspect | Static Arrow | Flexible Arrow |
|---|---|---|
| Description | Arrow stays down regardless of dropdown state. | Arrow changes direction when dropdown is opened or closed. |
| Purpose | Simple, familiar interaction. Minimalist design. | Provides clear feedback on dropdown state (open/closed). |
| When to Use | Straightforward actions (e.g., selecting a category). | Complex interactions (e.g., account settings, filters). |
| Visual Feedback | None—arrow always points down. | Strong—arrow changes to indicate state. |
| Cognitive Load | Low for simple tasks. | Low for complex tasks due to clear state indication. |
| Common use cases | Simple form fields; navigation menus; etc. | Profile dropdown; complex filter; F&A accordions, collapsed/expanded sidebar; etc. |
Key takeaways:
- Static arrow: Best for simple, familiar interactions with low complexity.
- Flexible arrow: Ideal for complex tasks where clear feedback is necessary.
Best Practices for Dropdown Arrow Design
Follow visual logic: Always ensure that the arrow points in the direction of the action. A downward arrow implies something is hidden below; when the dropdown is opened, changing the arrow to point upward reinforces the idea that the content is now visible.
Consistency is key. Whether you opt for a fixed arrow or a flexible one, maintain consistency across the interface. Inconsistent behaviors can confuse users, especially if different dropdowns behave differently.
Consider the complexity of the interaction: In simple forms or navigation menus, a static arrow might be enough. But for more complex or dynamic dropdowns—such as e-commerce filters or FAQ accordions—changing the arrow’s direction can provide valuable visual feedback.
Test with users: If you’re unsure whether your dropdown design needs a changing arrow or not, run usability tests. See how users interact with your design and whether the additional feedback improves their experience.
Conclusion
The direction of dropdown arrows might seem like a small detail, but it can have a significant impact on how users interact with your interface. Whether you choose a fixed arrow that stays consistently downward or a flexible arrow that changes direction, the key is to ensure that your design is consistent and aligns with user expectations.
I hope this article will help you resolve the concerns you are having like me. Do you prefer a consistent arrow or a flexible arrow in dropdowns? Let me know your thoughts, and feel free to share your ideas on how the arrow behavior influenced your user experience!
References (6)
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