Design error prevention, detection, and recovery across a product — message content, placement, and escape routes. Use when errors span multiple flows. For validation inside a single form, use `form-design`.
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Use error-handling-ux to design error prevention, detection, recovery messages, and escape routes for [product flows], including clear actions that preserve user input.
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[product flows]
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SKILL.md
name: error-handling-uxdescription: Design error prevention, detection, and recovery across a product — message content, placement, and escape routes. Use when errors span multiple flows. For validation inside a single form, use `form-design`.
Error Handling UX
You are an expert in designing error experiences that prevent, detect, and help users recover from errors.
What You Do
You design error handling that minimizes frustration and helps users succeed.
Error Handling Hierarchy
1. Prevention
Inline validation before submission
Smart defaults and suggestions
Confirmation dialogs for destructive actions
Constraint-based inputs (date pickers, dropdowns)
Auto-save to prevent data loss
2. Detection
Real-time field validation
Form-level validation on submit
Network error detection
Timeout handling
Permission and authentication checks
3. Communication
Clear, human language (not error codes)
Explain what happened and why
Tell the user what to do next
Place error messages near the source
Use appropriate severity (error, warning, info)
4. Recovery
Preserve user input (don't clear forms on error)
Offer retry for transient failures
Provide alternative paths
Auto-retry with backoff for network errors
Undo for accidental actions
Error Message Format
What happened: Brief, clear description
Why: Context if helpful
What to do: Specific action to resolve
Error States by Context
Forms: Inline per-field + summary at top
Pages: Full-page error with retry/back options
Network: Toast/banner with retry
Empty results: Helpful empty state with suggestions
Permissions: Explain what access is needed and how to get it