---
id: kb_states_recovery_actions
title: Actionable empty, loading, and error states
category: states
appliesToLenses: [responsiveness]
steps: [evaluate]
tags: [states, state-recovery, empty-state, loading, error]
citation:
  source: "GOV.UK Design System: Error message"
  url: "https://design-system.service.gov.uk/components/error-message/"
  retrievedAt: "2026-06-01T00:00:00.000Z"
freshness:
  volatility: stable
  lastReviewed: "2026-06-01T00:00:00.000Z"
---

## Summary

Empty, loading, and error states should explain what happened and expose a practical next step
or status signal.

## Deep Guidance

When a screen says there is no data, provide a way forward such as creating, adding, searching,
or navigating. When a screen reports an error, describe the problem in plain language and offer a
recovery route such as retrying, refreshing, going back, or contacting support. Loading states
should expose status semantics so assistive technology users can understand that the interface is
busy.