The Ultimate Guide to Toast Messages - What are toasts, their use-cases and react-native toast message implementation

In-app messages are essential for products to communicate with their users. Among these messages, toast messages have become a standard due to their effectiveness in providing timely feedback or directions. Despite their widespread use, little is known about their origins, uses, and etymology. This guide offers insights into toast messages, comparing them with other messaging formats, discussing their appropriateness in different scenarios, and offering tips on implementing them effectively.

History and Etymology:

While several theories exist regarding the naming of "toast" messages, most experts believe it comes from the act of proposing a short congratulatory or commemorative statement during mealtime while raising a glass - hence, the term "toast." Another possibility relates to their sudden appearance on the screen, resembling how toast emerges from a toaster. Regardless of its exact origin, the term "toast" refers to a transient, non-intrusive message displayed within an interface.

Characteristics of Toast Messages:

• Unobtrusive: Small and positioned out of the way of crucial information on the screen
• Non-interactable: Users cannot engage directly; they must wait for automatic closure or close it manually
• Short-lived: Generally fade away after a brief duration

Comparisons with Alternatives:

Before deciding whether to incorporate toast messages, it's vital to evaluate alternatives based on desired outcomes and target audience preferences. Here are key differences among related communication methods:

1. Traditional Persistent Messages: Email, SMS, and automated voicemail fall into this category. Unlike toast messages, persistent messages remain accessible until deleted by recipients, allowing them to save and review content later. While toast messages disappear without leaving a trace, persistent messages serve as records of interactions. Asynchronous in nature, they work well for appointments, promotional codes, and transactional verifications.
2. Push Notifications: Relatively recent additions to the digital landscape, push notifications reach users regardless of whether they actively engage with an app. Typically concise, they trigger actions once opened and vanish afterwards. Compared to toast messages, push notifications occur externally rather than within an app, focusing primarily on driving engagement instead of conveying detailed instructions.
3. In-App Notifications: Including snackbars and in-app notification centers, these messages reside within interfaces. More interactive compared to toast messages, they facilitate quick decisions, prompt navigation adjustments, and collect previous communications. Though diverse, they maintain strong connections with toast messages since they occupy shared territory within the app ecosystem.

Use Cases:

Ideally, designers should utilize toast messages sparingly to preserve their impact and avoid overwhelming users. Suitable instances involve:

• Confirmation of completed tasks
• Introductions of fresh elements within an app
• Guidance throughout initial setup processes
• Gentle reminders or recommendations
• Quick updates on ongoing activities

Implementation Tips:

You can implement a react native toast message using SuprSend. Here are guidelines for successfully integrating toast messages in your design:

1. Keep copy minimal and precise
2. Opt for eye-catching colors without obstructing legibility
3. Position consistently according to platform conventions
4. Set reasonable timeout durations depending on complexity
5. Evaluate user reactions to optimize future iterations
6. Avoid using toast messages for critical alerts

How to Implement and Integrate Toast Messages in Your React Application - Step-by-Step Guide

Here's the process to integrate a React Native toast message using SuprSend:

1. Step 1: First, install the SuprSend package by running `npm install suprsend` in your project directory.
2. Step 2: Next, import SuprSend in your component file by adding `import { send } from 'suprsend';` at the beginning of the file.
3. Step 3: Then, initialize SuprSend with your API credentials like this: `const sup = new SuprSend('your_api_key', 'your_secret_key');`. Replace `'your_api_key'` and `'your_secret_key'` with your actual SuprSend API keys.
4. Step 4: Before sending a toast message, define the toast message details, including the text, title, and any optional settings like custom styles or sounds.
5. Step 5: Finally, invoke the `send()` function from SuprSend and pass in the defined toast message details. This displays the toast message within the specified period.

  
      import { View, Text } from 'react-native';
      import { send } from 'suprsend';
    
      function MyComponent({ navigation }) {
        const handlePress = () => {
          // Show toast message when button pressed
          send({
            channel: 'web',
            event: 'toast',
            data: {
              title: 'Hello World!',
              body: 'This is a sample toast message.',
            },
          });
        };
    
        return (
          <View>
             <Text onPress={handlePress}>Show Toast Message</Text>
          </View>
        );
      }
    
      export default MyComponent;
        
    

More details are in this documentation - React (suprsend.com)

Let's try to generate a toast automatically. Play with the below playground.

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If you want similar toast notification, try the sandbox environment free for 30 days, implement your use-cases - https://app.suprsend.com/en/signup/

FAQs:

Q: What is a toast message?

A toast message is a transient, non-intrusive message displayed within an interface, providing timely feedback or directions. It's small, unobtrusive, and typically fades away after a brief duration.

Q: What is delivery status toast message?‍

A delivery status toast message typically refers to a brief notification indicating the status of a delivered item or message. It's a concise update on the successful delivery of a particular item.

Q: What is delivery toast message?‍

A delivery toast message is a short notification that conveys information about the successful delivery of a specific item or message within an app or platform.

Q: What does delivery status toast message mean?‍

The delivery status toast message signifies a brief notification confirming the successful delivery status of a specific item or message. It provides users with timely updates on the completion of a delivery process.