Why So Many Info Tips Are Bad (and How to Make Them Better)

Summary: Information tips can clarify complex UIs, but they should not hide essential information, trigger redundant information, or disrupt the current workflow.

Information tips — those helpful little messages triggered by tapping or hovering over a question mark ( ? ) or info ( i ) icon — can help users make faster decisions and increase the understandability of UI elements. But in practice, they’re often overused, misapplied, or bloated with unnecessary content. When info tips hide essential instructions or bury users in redundant explanations, they create confusion rather than clarity.

What Is an Info Tip?

An information (info) tip is a brief, contextual message designed to offer supplemental information about a specific interface element or step in a workflow.

It’s typically activated by hovering over or clicking on a small icon — often a lowercase i or a question mark — and is attached to a specific element within the interface (e.g., a text field, icon, button, label).