Web HIG tip #1: Don't optimistically delete

[frozonfreak]

Web HIG tip #1: Don't optimistically delete

Rule: Never use optimistic UI for destructive confirmation — wait for server acknowledgment. (Quick #43 / HIG-MUT destructive-mutation guidance.)

If the user hits Delete, wait for the server to confirm. Don't pretend it worked and hope the request succeeds. Optimistic updates are great for likes and toggles; they are dangerous for irreversible or hard-to-reverse actions.

Do instead:

• Show a clear pending state while the mutation is in flight
• Only remove or finalize the UI after the server acknowledges success
• For reversible deletes, prefer an explicit undo window over silent optimistic removal

The Web HIG is a behavioral contract for how the web should behave — not a component library.

• Docs: https://frozonfreak.github.io/webhig/
• Quick Reference: https://github.com/frozonfreak/webhig/blob/main/HIG-QUICK.md