[NOTE: The tag input field is currently experiencing an “internal error” upon clicking, preventing me from adding tags directly. The intended tags for this post are listed below.]
[ * ux-improvement
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ui-design
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prompt-management
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sidebar
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naming-convention
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description
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truncation
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visibility
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efficiency
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feature-request]
Hello Google AI Studio Team and Community,
I would like to propose an optimization for the “Save prompt” modal and its impact on the sidebar navigation, specifically concerning the “Prompt name” and “Description” fields. My observations indicate that while the platform offers flexibility, it creates usability friction in navigation.
Context of the Problem:
When saving a prompt, users can assign a “Prompt name” and an optional “Description.” However, the design currently leads to inefficiencies in how these prompts are identified and managed, particularly within the left-hand navigation sidebar where saved chats/prompts are listed.
Observed Behavior:
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“Prompt name” Length: The “Prompt name” field (e.g., “TESTES 2025/2026 aaaaa…”) allows for a considerable number of characters (tested with 100 characters, as seen in Figure 2).
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Sidebar Truncation: In the left-hand navigation sidebar (Figure 1), these long prompt names are truncated (e.g., “TESTES 2025/2026 aa…”) due to limited display space (highlighted in red in Figure 1).
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Tooltip for Full Name: While hovering over a truncated name in the sidebar correctly displays the full prompt name via a tooltip (Figure 2, green highlight), this requires an extra interaction.
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“Description” Field Visibility: The “Description” field is a valuable tool for adding context. However, this description is not readily visible in the main sidebar list of prompts; it requires clicking “View all history” and then accessing the prompt’s details to see it.
UX/UI Analysis:
This behavior highlights a conflict between input flexibility and display usability, impacting ‘Efficiency of Use’ , ‘Visibility of System Status’ , and ‘Recognition rather than Recall’ (Nielsen’s Heuristics).
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Inefficient Identification: Users spend extra time hovering over truncated names to identify prompts, which is frustrating in long lists.
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Disconnected Metadata: The “Description” field, designed to add context, is not displayed where it would be most useful (in the primary list), forcing users to navigate deeper to retrieve essential information. This fails the “Recognition rather than Recall” principle.
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User Workarounds: Users are forced to adapt by either creating excessively short (and potentially less descriptive) prompt names or by embedding brief descriptions directly into the prompt name itself (e.g., “TESTES 2025/2026 - [Short Desc]”), which is not an ideal solution and consumes valuable “name” real estate.
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Cognitive Load: The need to actively hover or navigate to find basic identification details increases cognitive load.
Suggestion of Improvement:
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Option Standard: Enforce Practical Name Length Limit and Display Snippet of Description:
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“Prompt name” Length Limit: Implement a practical character limit for the “Prompt name” field (e.g., 40-50 characters) that is more consistent with how names are displayed in the sidebar without excessive truncation. Provide a character counter or visual feedback during input.
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Display Description Snippet in Sidebar: In the left-hand navigation sidebar, display a small snippet of the “Description” text directly below the prompt name. This would provide immediate context and enable “Recognition rather than Recall” without requiring a hover or deeper navigation.
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Maintain Tooltip: Keep the tooltip for the full prompt name, but enhance it to also show the full description upon hover, making the information accessible in multiple ways.
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Option Alternative: Enhanced Tooltip with Full Description:
- If displaying a description snippet in the sidebar is not feasible, enhance the existing tooltip to always display the full “Description” along with the full “Prompt name” upon hover. This would still centralize the contextual information.
Impact on User:
Optimizing these fields would significantly improve the efficiency of prompt identification and management , reducing user frustration and cognitive load. Users would spend less time searching for the correct prompt, enhancing their workflow and overall satisfaction with the AI Studio’s organizational capabilities.
Thank you for your attention to this feedback.
Best regards,