The Optimal Way to Display Modals on Mobile Screens
Turning modal windows into modal sheets
Are you displaying your modals optimally on mobile screens? A modal window on a desktop screen shouldn’t look the same on a mobile one.
Desktop modal windows open in the center of the screen with a transparent backdrop. Users can see through the backdrop to the parent screen as the child window is overlaid on top. The window has ample room to display content, and the buttons are easy to click.
There’s no problem with this layout on a desktop screen, but it causes spacing and content issues on mobile. Not only that, but it makes the buttons harder to touch.
The backdrop margins occupy the left and right screen edges, diminishing the real estate. As a result, the modal window is too compact, which limits the content display. The more packed the content is, the harder it is to scan.
Since it’s fixed in the center of the screen, the user’s thumb cannot easily reach buttons when holding the phone with one hand. They may have to use both hands or move their hand up to reach them.
