What are Checkout Error Messages? Examples and Best Practices

Checkout error messages

Guiding users to correct input errors in the e-commerce checkout, boosting conversions, trust, and accessibility.

Why Checkout Error Messages Matter

• Driving conversions and reducing abandonment

  Clear error messages help users quickly identify and correct mistakes, resulting in fewer drop-offs and higher completion rates.

  • Provide clear guidance:

    Explain exactly what is wrong (e.g., “Card number must be 16 digits”).

  • Reduce frustration:

    Use a friendly tone to keep users engaged rather than frustrated.

• Enhancing user trust and satisfaction

  Well-crafted messages convey empathy and expertise, making users feel supported during the checkout process.

  • Human tone:

    Write messages in a conversational style to foster rapport with users.

  • Transparency:

    Display validation rules upfront so users know how to format their entries.

• Seo and accessibility benefits

  Optimized error handling contributes to a better overall site experience, potentially lowering bounce rates and improving search rankings.

  • Screen reader announcements:

    Use ARIA-live regions to ensure errors are announced to assistive technologies.

  • Impact on engagement metrics:

    A seamless checkout reduces abandoned sessions and signals quality to search engines.

Best Practices for Checkout Error Messages

• Use clear, specific, and actionable language

  Avoid vague statements. Tell users exactly what went wrong and how to fix it.

  • Field-specific messages:

    Associate each message directly with the relevant input field.

  • Actionable steps:

    Guide users with next steps (e.g., “Enter a date after today’s date”).

• Implement inline and real-time validation

  Validate inputs as users type to catch errors immediately and prevent form submissions with multiple errors.

  • Instant feedback:

    Use JavaScript to validate fields on blur or input change.

  • Visual cues:

    Highlight fields with errors using color and icons.

• Maintain consistent styling and placement

  Keep error messages visually connected to the fields they relate to, using consistent design patterns.

  • Visual contrast:

    Ensure error text stands out against the background.

  • Proximity to fields:

    Place messages immediately above or below the input.

• Ensure accessibility compliance

  Follow WCAG guidelines to make error messages available to all users.

  • Aria roles and attributes:

    Use aria-invalid and aria-describedby to link errors to fields.

  • Keyboard navigation:

    Ensure users can navigate to error messages using the keyboard alone.

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

• Using vague or technical jargon

  Messages like “Error 402” confuse users and offer no guidance.

  • Avoid error codes:

    Use plain language instead of numeric codes.

  • Simplify language:

    Choose common terms over technical ones (e.g., “expired” vs “invalid”).

• Overwhelming users with multiple errors

  Flooding users with a long list of errors can be discouraging and hard to digest.

  • Prioritize errors:

    Show the most critical error first.

  • Provide a summary:

    Offer a brief overview followed by inline details.

• Omitting actionable next steps

  Leaving users without instructions on how to correct inputs leads to abandonment.

  • Include fix instructions:

    Always pair an error with a solution.

• Ignoring mobile responsiveness

  Tiny error text or misplaced messages can be hard to read on small screens.

  • Responsive design:

    Ensure error messages adapt to different screen sizes.

Examples and Tools

• Html example

  <label for=\"email\">Email</label>
  <input type=\"email\" id=\"email\" aria-describedby=\"email-error\">
  <div id=\"email-error\" class=\"error\" role=\"alert\">Please enter a valid email address.</div>
  

• Prevue.me actionable critiques

  Use prevue.me to get in-depth feedback on your error messaging as part of a full CRO, UX, SEO, and accessibility audit, ensuring no friction points are overlooked.

• Other useful tools

  Complement your audits with Hotjar for session recordings, Optimizely for A/B testing, and Lighthouse for accessibility checks.

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