Rule of Clear Action
Controls communicate their action and scope.
Requirement
Essential controls must have discoverable interaction cues and names that communicate what they do. Consequential actions must make their scope and relevant effect clear before commitment. Important unavailable actions should have an accessible explanation of what prevents them.
Why
Users need perceptible cues to discover possible actions; see Norman's signifiers. Names must also be programmatically available where required by WCAG 4.1.2. Neither source makes a pointer cursor or a particular button style sufficient proof.
Application
Prefer “Publish rates for 12 selected lanes” over an unexplained “Apply” when scope could be confused. Distinguish static status from actionable controls. Keep an unavailable action's explanation accessible without depending on hover over a disabled element.
Exception
Familiar compact controls can use icons with accessible names and appropriate contextual help. Repeating an already unambiguous scope in every button is not required. Do not replace standard semantics with decorative control imitation.
Review
Check accessible names and the observed outcome, then assess whether the wording and visual cues communicate that outcome to the intended audience.
Examples
The pair isolates this rule. A good example is not approval of the entire interface.
DR-009 · Illustrative comparison—not an engine verdict.
Good for this task
Bad for this task
Review notes and sources
What this example establishes
Other valid choices
Exception
Sources and scope
Shipments
12
Data as of 09:00
Refresh failed at 09:05
Selected shipment: EP 1042
EP 1042 · Oakland → Seattle
EP 1043 · Oakland → Denver
Rate proposal
12 selected lanes · USD rates · effective September 15, 2026.
No changes published.
Dispatch review
Today · All carriers and origins · 09:00 PT snapshot
3 shipments need a response
Address problems are blocking delivery. Review these exceptions before the next dispatch.
1,200 shipments today
Daily total, including the 3 exceptions.
Keyboard walkthrough: select Reset, then use Tab, Enter, and Escape.
Facility dwell
Observed dwell: 18 hours
Service target: 12 hours
Over
target: 6 hours
Choose a distinct service
Regional International Priority Distribution — North
Regional International Priority Distribution — South
Same prefix, different destinations. The suffix matters to this selection.
Parcels by carrier
Color represents carrier identity, not rank.
- Carrier A240 parcels
- Carrier B180 parcels
- Carrier C90 parcels
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Enforcement
review is the strongest mechanism Viewrule expects for the complete rule. Partial checks can still provide supporting evidence without proving the whole requirement.