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An empty state means a request or view has finished and there is no content to display. A loading state means the system is still waiting for content. Show “No results” only after a search or filter completes successfully with no matches—not while the request is pending.
What separates an empty state from a loading state?
The difference is whether the operation has finished. During loading, the interface does not yet know what content the request will return. In an empty state, the operation is complete and there is nothing to show.
- Loading: Data is being fetched or an action is still in progress. Use an appropriate progress indicator or, when suitable, a skeleton.
- Empty: The view has no content to display, either because it has not been populated yet or because a completed search or filter found no matches.
- Error: The request failed, so the interface cannot confirm whether content exists. Explain the problem and provide a useful recovery action when possible.
The Intelligence Community Design System explicitly distinguishes an empty state from loading, while the Australian Government Agriculture Design System treats loading, empty, and error as separate states that should each be designed for.
What should users see during a search?
Move the interface through states that reflect what the system actually knows. Before submission, show the ready search interface. While the request is active, show loading feedback. When it finishes, show either results, a no-results message, or an error.
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- Ready: The user can enter a query or change filters.
- Loading: The search is running. Do not present “No results” yet; matches may still arrive.
- Results: The request succeeded and returned matching content.
- Empty results: The request succeeded but found no matches. Identify the completed query or filters in context and, where useful, suggest changing them.
- Error: The request did not complete successfully. State that results could not be loaded and offer a relevant next step, such as retrying.
This sequence keeps “nothing matched” distinct from “we could not check.” Supabase Design System guidance distinguishes initial and zero-result empty states and their transition after loading.
When is a skeleton the right loading treatment?
A skeleton is a low-fidelity placeholder for interface elements while content is loading. It is most useful when the eventual layout is known and the wait is long enough for a placeholder to help users understand the shape of what is coming.
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- Make the skeleton resemble the final content and keep its dimensions stable to reduce layout shifts.
- Do not use skeletons for very brief waits, when they add little value.
- Do not leave a skeleton in place after a successful response returns no content. It implies that content is still on its way.
- For a prolonged wait, provide status text or a related control outside the skeleton; the placeholder should not be the only status message.
The Singapore Government Design System describes skeletons as loading placeholders and warns that using them in an empty state misleads users into expecting content.
How should an empty state help the user?
Explain what is absent in terms of the feature the user is viewing. A first-use list and a search with no matches are both empty, but they call for different explanations and actions.
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First-use empty state
If a list has not yet been populated, say that there are no items yet. When the user can create the first item, make that action clear.
Zero-result search or filter
Say that the completed search or selected filters returned no matches. Where it would help, invite the user to adjust the query or filters. Avoid implying that the user has no data if the result only applies to the current search.
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SAP Fiori recommends explaining why an empty state appears and what the user can do next. The Intelligence Community Design System also covers first-use and no-results situations.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How do you handle failures without confusing users?
A failed request is not proof that the user has no content. Keep the error distinct from both loading and empty results: explain that the content could not be loaded, then offer a recovery step if one is available. If a retry is in progress, show loading feedback again; if it succeeds with no matches, then show the empty result.
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The Agriculture Design System identifies loading, empty, and error as separate feedback states. This separation helps users decide whether to wait, refine a search, create an item, or recover from a problem.
How can status remain clear during a long wait?
Make progress perceivable rather than relying on visual placeholders alone. For a long wait, add status text or a related control outside the skeleton so users receive an explicit update. The Singapore Government Design System advises that skeletons should not be the only status message.
These distinctions also matter for assistive technology: the interface should communicate whether work is pending, has completed without content, or has failed. A visual skeleton alone does not explain which outcome applies.
Quick decision guide
| What the system knows | Show | Useful user guidance |
|---|---|---|
| The request is still active | Loading indicator or an appropriate skeleton | For a prolonged wait, provide status text or a related control. |
| The request succeeded and there is no content | Empty state | Explain what is absent and, where useful, how to create an item or revise a search. |
| The request failed | Error state | Explain that content could not be loaded and offer a relevant recovery action. |
| The request succeeded and returned content | Results or populated view | Present the returned content. |
These are design-system recommendations, not claims about a measured performance improvement. The Singapore Government, Intelligence Community, Australian Government Agriculture, SAP Fiori, and Supabase guidance all support keeping loading, empty, and error feedback distinct.
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