Tesler's Law (Conservation of Complexity)
Every application has an inherent amount of complexity that cannot be removed — only shifted.
What it means on a web page
Complex systems cannot be simplified infinitely. The goal is to shift complexity from the user to the system: pre-fill fields, sensible defaults, multi-step flows.
People may have to make more decisions, or fill in more, than the task needs.
This describes a general tendency. How much it matters on a particular page depends on the page and the people using it.
Does theuxbites check this?
Yes. Every audit runs a fixed check for it on the page as a browser renders it. When the check fails, the report names this principle, shows what was counted on your page and links the source below.
Suggestions
Break complex forms into steps. Pre-fill known data. Use smart defaults. Move complexity into the system.
- Split long forms into multi-step flows with clear progress indication
- Pre-fill fields where data is already known (e.g. logged-in user email)
- Set smart defaults that are right for most users
- Use <fieldset> and <legend> to group related fields
- Show only the fields necessary for each step; hide optional fields by default
These are common ways to apply the principle, not rules. Whether one fits depends on your page.
See how your page does
An audit checks this principle and eight others on your page, together with speed, accessibility, SEO and AI visibility.