Notification Basics
What is a notification in mobile design?
A message from an app to inform the user about something happening
What are the three key traits of a good notification?
Related, Personal, Actionable
When should you avoid sending notifications?
Between midnight and 6AM
What’s the ideal length for notification text?
Around 10 words
When should you ask for notification permission?
After demonstrating value, not on first launch
What are the four key classes involved in Android notifications?
NotificationChannel, NotificationManager, Notification.Builder, AlarmManager
What is the #2 reason users uninstall apps?
Bad or excessive notifications
What types of notifications should be avoided?
App rating requests, “we miss you” messages, syncing updates
What kind of language should notifications use?
Clear, concise, user-friendly, and jargon-free
What’s a subtle way to ask for notification permission?
Send a quiet notification with a disable option
What does BroadcastReceiver do in the notification system?
It receives and handles scheduled notifications when they trigger
What makes a notification “actionable”?
It allows the user to take a meaningful action
What’s the best time to send non-critical notifications?
Between 6–8 PM in the user’s local timezone
What theory supports user motivation through autonomy?
Self-Determination Theory
What is A/B testing in notification design?
Comparing different versions usually on the same group of people to see which performs best.
What is the mental model used to understand notification components?
A postal system: channels = mail types, manager = post office, builder = letter, etc.
Why should notifications be context-sensitive?
To ensure relevance and avoid interrupting users at bad times
Why is quality more important than quantity in notifications?
Too many low-value notifications annoy users and reduce engagement
Give an example of a good notification for a better way to ask users to track their health?
“Studies show daily tracking helps. Would you like reminders?”
What’s a better alternative to prompting users for notification permission on first launch?
Show a subtle notification first that demonstrates value and includes an option to disable it
Why are notifications important in mobile apps?
They provide timely, relevant info and can motivate user action—but poor ones lead to app uninstalls
What is the risk of impersonal or generic notifications?
Users may ignore or uninstall the app due to lack of relevance
How can notification channels improve user control?
They let users customize which types of notifications they receive
What makes a good call to action in a notification?
It opens relevant content, supports action without opening the app, and offers options
What’s a key takeaway from notification testing?
Always test—what seems best may not be most effective