Concept cluster

Trigger or navigate

Compare a named action, navigation to a destination, and a compact action represented by an icon.

Which one to choose

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

Button: Button performs an action; Link navigates to a destination, while Icon button is the compact button variant whose visible label is replaced by an icon.
Link: Link navigates and has an href; Button performs an action, while Icon button remains an action even when represented only by an icon.
Icon button: Icon button performs an action like Button but omits visible text; Link still requires a real navigation destination.

Try it

Trigger or navigate

Compare all three behaviors

Shared comparison scenario: A project screen lets the user trigger an operation or move to a destination from a control suited to the available space.

This context stays fixed. Switch concepts to observe the mission, edge case, and specimen specific to each behavior.

Button

Button performs an action; Link navigates to a destination, while Icon button is the compact button variant whose visible label is replaced by an icon.

Your task

Activate Save with Space, verify the pending state blocks a second request, and recover from a server error.

Edge case to verify

During submission, the button preserves its width, exposes Saving, and blocks duplicate activation without removing focus.

Mission

Button

Activate Save with Space, verify the pending state blocks a second request, and recover from a server error.

Primary state: The enabled submit button has a clear label, visible focus, and sufficient text contrast.

Subject: Weekly summary

Parts of the specimen

Select a numbered marker on the schematic, or use the list below, to see its role. The schematic shows the concept's representative state.

Control

The interactive element that receives input and exposes state.

The three concepts

ConceptButtonA named control that performs an action in the current interface when activated.Open ConceptLinkA named connection to another destination that preserves standard browser navigation behavior.Open ConceptIcon buttonA compact button represented visually by an icon but still given its own stable accessible action name.Open

The three comparisons

ComparisonButton vs Link ComparisonButton vs Icon button ComparisonIcon button vs Link

Signals you are confusing them

These descriptions fit every concept in the cluster, so none of them is enough to decide.

an activatable control performs an operation or moves to a destination
available space determines whether the action uses text or only a symbol

Other concept clusters

Concept clusterSmall contextual surfaces Concept clusterModal surfaces Concept clusterEdge-attached surfaces Concept clusterChoose from a list Concept clusterChoices and binary states Concept clusterChange view or reveal content Concept clusterInform the user Concept clusterWait and track progress Concept clusterEnter text

Which one to choose

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

Button: Button performs an action; Link navigates to a destination, while Icon button is the compact button variant whose visible label is replaced by an icon.
Link: Link navigates and has an href; Button performs an action, while Icon button remains an action even when represented only by an icon.
Icon button: Icon button performs an action like Button but omits visible text; Link still requires a real navigation destination.