Design Quote by Jeremy Keith
“Remember, the web isn't about control. If a visitor to your site is familiar with using a browser's native form doodad, you won't be doing them any favors if you override the browser functionality with your own widget, even if you think your widget looks better.”
About This Quote
Source Article: 'HTML5 Boilerplate' by Jeremy Keith, 2010
Web design should respect native browser controls; overriding them can harm usability and user trust.
In simple terms: Don't replace familiar browser features with custom ones.
Key Takeaway
Preserve native functionality for better user experience.
Themes
usability
design
trust
Mood
thoughtful
practical
Type
design
usability
When to use this quote
- web development
- UI design
- user onboarding
- browser compatibility
Key Concepts
Human‑centered design
accessibility
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you truly need a custom widget?
- How does native control benefit users?
A Different Perspective
Custom widgets may look better but can confuse users and reduce accessibility.
![“... in the eyes of its visitors, Venice has no reality of its own. Anyone visiting the place has already seen so many pictures of it that they can only attempt to view it via these clichés, and they take home photographs of Venice that are similar to the ones they already knew. Venice [is]…” quote by Christian Boltanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/27a/christian-boltanski-23691_backdrop_in-the-eyes-of-its-visitors-venice-has-n_158297.jpg)
