What is dark mode and why it’s taking over

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Dark mode has become increasingly popular over the past few years, with many apps and websites adopting this feature. Its rise has not only changed the design of apps and websites but also improved the user experience for many people. Having noticed this trend, in this article, we will explore the reasons behind the popularity of dark mode, its benefits, and its potential as an accessibility feature. 

 

What is dark mode?

Dark mode, despite common misconceptions, does not necessarily replace a bright background with a completely black one. Instead, it typically involves displaying white or light-colored text and other elements against a dark background, often with an appropriate color scheme and contrast. A dark mode feature is offered by many modern operating systems, apps, and websites. Users can turn it on and off in the settings, according to their preferences.

How dark mode affected UI trends
The rise of dark mode has had a significant impact on UI design trends in recent years, shaping the appearance of apps and websites in several ways:

• Dark mode emphasizes the importance of contrast in UI design, leading to more legible and visually appealing interfaces.

• Its interfaces tend to be more minimalist and streamlined, reflecting a broader trend towards simplicity and ease of use.
• Dark mode has led to greater experimentation with animation and lighting effects in UI design, creating more engaging and visually interesting interfaces.

Overall, the rise of dark mode has helped to push UI design in a more minimalist, contrast-driven direction. A greater emphasis is put on simplicity, legibility, and visual hierarchy. It has also inspired greater experimentation with color, typography, and lighting effects, as designers seek to create interfaces that are aesthetically pleasing and functional at the same time.

 

Dark mode is taking over the tech world

Dark mode is pretty ubiquitous nowadays. You can turn it on when you're texting your friends on Messenger or colleagues on Slack, sending emails on Gmail, or scrolling through Facebook. Twitter, Netflix, and YouTube also let you enjoy dark mode. It seems like almost every app or website has it these days. Internet browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, Opera, and Microsoft Edge can also be used in dark mode. Smartphone makers have joined in too, letting you turn on dark mode for the whole system. It's not just a trend, though. Dark mode undoubtedly has many fans because of the aesthetic design that users find appealing, but there’s much more to it.

Why dark mode is all the rage
Dark mode offers several benefits that can improve the user experience of interfaces. First, it enhances color contrast and reduces glare, which improves the visibility of graphics and text. This makes important data and visual materials easier to read and understand, especially in low-light environments. A properly selected contrast can also reduce eye strain and improve the comfort of using a particular website or application.

Second, a screen uses less energy to display black or dark colors. So, using dark mode on devices with OLED screens can prolong the battery life of devices and make them more energy-efficient. 

Third, dark mode can help users focus on the content they're viewing by reducing distractions from other elements on the screen. This is particularly important when viewing content on mobile devices, where notifications and other alerts can be more intrusive. It can also enhance the immersive experience of applications such as video streaming services or gaming.

Last but not least, some qualities of dark mode can be especially important for certain users. Dark mode makes the text easier to read and distinguish from the background by providing higher contrast, which can be a crucial accessibility feature for users with visual impairments. The bright light and eye strain reduction can be critical for users with sensitivity to bright light. That makes it a valuable accessibility feature. 

Why did we write about dark mode?

As an IT company, we keep up with the latest developments in the tech industry.  Recently, we learned that Jira will soon introduce dark mode, which we are particularly excited about! As we’re not only active Jira users but also Jira apps developers, we’re looking forward to seeing how this new feature will affect the user experience of Jira and Jira apps.

Update: Jira has released dark mode! Here we write how you can turn it on.