Behavior comparison

Button vs Icon button

Decisive difference

Button shows a visible text label; Icon button performs the same kind of action but replaces the visible label with an icon and an accessible name.

ButtonChoose Button if the action is primary or unfamiliar and a visible label prevents misunderstanding.
Icon buttonChoose Icon button if a familiar action repeats in a dense toolbar and space matters more than a visible label.

Decision

Does the control trigger an action, change location, or need to remain icon-only?

Dimension	ButtonButton	Icon buttonIcon button
Trigger	Click, tap, Enter, or Space on the named control.	Click, tap, Enter, or Space on the icon control.
Modality	Non-modal action control; any modal result is a separate component.	Non-modal action control; its compact appearance does not change button behavior.
Placement	Within the form, toolbar, or action area where the command applies.	In a toolbar or next to the object affected by its single action.
Interactivity	Runs an action and exposes disabled or pending state while duplicate activation is unsafe.	Runs one action and always has an accessible name; a tooltip is only supplemental.
Focus	A high-contrast focus indicator remains visible in every enabled visual variant and pending state.	The full button target, not only the glyph, receives a visible focus indicator.
Dismissal	Not applicable: an action button does not open a surface unless that separate relationship is defined.	The button itself does not dismiss; any surface it controls follows that surface's separate contract.
Accessible role	button	button
Use case	Submitting or resetting a form	A familiar action repeats in a dense toolbar
Mobile behavior	Provide a generous touch target and keep primary and destructive actions visually distinct.	Keep a large invisible or visible touch target and never depend on hover to explain the action.

Button vs Icon button

Button shows a visible text label; Icon button performs the same kind of action but replaces the visible label with an icon and an accessible name.

ButtonChoose Button if the action is primary or unfamiliar and a visible label prevents misunderstanding.
Icon buttonChoose Icon button if a familiar action repeats in a dense toolbar and space matters more than a visible label.

Nine dimensions

Dimension	ButtonButton	Icon buttonIcon button
Trigger	Click, tap, Enter, or Space on the named control.	Click, tap, Enter, or Space on the icon control.
Modality	Non-modal action control; any modal result is a separate component.	Non-modal action control; its compact appearance does not change button behavior.
Placement	Within the form, toolbar, or action area where the command applies.	In a toolbar or next to the object affected by its single action.
Interactivity	Runs an action and exposes disabled or pending state while duplicate activation is unsafe.	Runs one action and always has an accessible name; a tooltip is only supplemental.
Focus	A high-contrast focus indicator remains visible in every enabled visual variant and pending state.	The full button target, not only the glyph, receives a visible focus indicator.
Dismissal	Not applicable: an action button does not open a surface unless that separate relationship is defined.	The button itself does not dismiss; any surface it controls follows that surface's separate contract.
Accessible role	button	button
Use case	Submitting or resetting a form	A familiar action repeats in a dense toolbar
Mobile behavior	Provide a generous touch target and keep primary and destructive actions visually distinct.	Keep a large invisible or visible touch target and never depend on hover to explain the action.