What's the best UI for entering date of birth?

forms user-interface usability
Ionuț Staicu picture Ionuț Staicu · Dec 4, 2008 · Viewed 99.3k times · Source

What is the best method for date of birth selector?

  • 3 text inputs (month / day / year) or one mask input. User MUST use keyboard
  • 3 select boxes. User can use keyboard or mouse.
  • One nice datepicker.

I want to know what is the most usable and problem free solution, so user wont be confused at all.

Answer

Patrick McElhaney picture Patrick McElhaney · Dec 4, 2008

If your goal is to make sure "the user won't be confused at all," I think this is the best option.

three dropdowns for month, day, year

I wouldn't recommend a datepicker for date of birth. First you have to browse to the year (click, click, click…), then to the month (click some more), and then find and click the tiny number on a grid.

Datepickers are useful when you don't know the exact date off the top of your head, e.g. you're planning a trip for the second week of February.

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