Text is overlooked as UX as a pattern for applications.

Modern applications are designed around graphical interfaces. Using buttons, forms, and other elements to show information on the screen.

But we are all familiar with text. It has been used for centuries to communicate ideas and share information.

Applications using Text for UI/UX

Examples of applications doing a great job of using text as a core part of their product.

Excel

Few things compare to seeing an Excel Master navigate a sheet only using their keyboard. Applying formulas and moving data around with a few keystrokes.

The only thing that might be better is seeing a developer do the same with Vim.

Notion

The Notion Block editor is a great example of a text first approach to an application, and how to make it easier to use. Open Notion and hit / to get access to all the different types of blocks in the editor.

Shopify

Shopify integrated ShopifyQL into their application. A query language, like SQL, to filter and analyze data in your store via text. With built in hints, a query builder, and auto-completion for less technical users.

Tally

Tally is a form builder. Looking from the outside a big differentiator is their text based form editor. With a block style interface to add different fields to your form.

Descript

A video editor that allows you to edit video by editing the text.

Upload your video/audio, get a transcript, and start editing via the built in text editor. Remove or reorder words, sentences, or paragraphs and the video will update to reflect your changes.

AI Applications

A lot of AI applications are text based in a way, applications like Chat GPT, Deepseek, Perplexity, and others are mostly text based. Using natural language you can explain what you are looking for and get a response back.

Chat UX

This is a concept I first heard about from Dharmesh from Hubspot.

Take advantage of natural language proceesing and AI. Allow your users to interact with your application in a more natural way. Forget having to click through a bunch of buttons and forms. Ask the application what you are looking for.

I don’t think future applications will only be a chat interface, with an input field and get text back. But modern applications can benefit from simple text based interfaces, reducing complexity.