A Guide to Hick’s Law in JavaScript UI/UX Design

When designing modern web applications, simplicity often wins. One of the most powerful psychological principles that helps guide this process is Hick's Law. In UI/UX design, Hick's Law teaches us that the more choices you present to a user, the longer it takes them to make a decision. By minimizing complexity and guiding users through clear, intentional choices, you can dramatically improve usability and engagement.

In this blog, we'll explore:

• What Is Hick's Law?
• Applying Hick's Law in UI/UX
• Simplifying Dropdown Menus with a JavaScript ComboBox
• Progressive Disclosure with a JavaScript TabPanel Control
• Reducing Choices in JavaScript Data Grids

We'll demonstrate how Hick's Law applies to web applications and highlight practical examples using Wijmo's JavaScript UI components.

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What Is Hick's Law?

Hick's Law, developed by psychologists William Edmund Hick and Ray Hyman, states:

Decision time increases with the number and complexity of choices.

This means that cluttered interfaces with too many options can overwhelm users, causing delays, errors, or even abandonment. On the other hand, reducing or grouping choices makes it easier for users to navigate and act quickly.

Above, you see Google's home page. This is a prime example of minimizing choices without being overly simplified.

Applying Hick's Law in UI/UX

Limit Visible Options

Show only the most essential choices up front. Keep advanced options hidden until needed.

Group Related Choices

Categorize similar actions together to reduce mental load.

Guide the User Journey

Use progressive disclosure — reveal more information as the user progresses, instead of all at once.

Design for Speed

Optimize workflows by reducing clicks, screens, or decision points.

In the above example, Notion's welcome survey showcases Hick's Law by minimizing choices and breaking up complex tasks in the onboarding process.

Examples Using Wijmo Components

Simplifying Dropdowns with Wijmo ComboBox

Too many options in a dropdown can paralyze users. With Wijmo's ComboBox, you can implement auto-complete filtering, allowing users to see only relevant results as they type.

import * as wjInput from '@mescius/wijmo.input';

// Example: Searchable ComboBox
let countries = ['United States', 'United Kingdom', 'Japan', 'Germany', 'France', 'Brazil', 'Canada'];

new wjInput.ComboBox('#countrySelector', {
  itemsSource: countries,
  isEditable: true,   // allow filtering
  placeholder: 'Select a country...'
});

By enabling users to type to filter, you reduce visible options from dozens to just a few, minimizing cognitive load.

Progressive Disclosure with Wijmo TabPanel

Instead of overloading a dashboard with every metric, use TabPanel to organize information into manageable sections.

import * as wjNav from '@mescius/wijmo.nav';

// Example: TabPanel
let tabs = new wjNav.TabPanel('#tabPanel', {
  tabs: [
    { header: 'Overview', content: '#overview' },
    { header: 'Details', content: '#details' },
    { header: 'Settings', content: '#settings' }
  ]
});

This keeps each section focused, so users only see what's relevant at that stage.

Reducing Choices in Data Grids

A data grid with dozens of actions can overwhelm users. Wijmo's FlexGrid supports context menus and column pinning, allowing you to move advanced options into secondary interactions.

import * as wjGrid from '@mescius/wijmo.grid';

// Example: FlexGrid with fewer default actions
let grid = new wjGrid.FlexGrid('#theGrid', {
  autoGenerateColumns: false,
  columns: [
    { binding: 'id', header: 'ID' },
    { binding: 'name', header: 'Name' },
    { binding: 'status', header: 'Status' }
  ],
  itemsSource: data
});

// Optional: Add context menu for advanced actions
grid.hostElement.addEventListener('contextmenu', e => {
  e.preventDefault();
  // Show custom menu here
});

Only essential data is displayed upfront, while less frequently used actions are hidden in menus.

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Conclusion

Hick's Law isn't about stripping away features. It's about presenting choices in a way that feels natural, intuitive, and fast. By applying this principle with Wijmo's JavaScript UI components, you can design web applications that empower users instead of overwhelming them.