Controls / The visual dictionary

Tertiary button.

Presents a low-emphasis action with minimal decoration.

Also calledtext buttonghost button
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See it in context

UI illustration
Web · Controls · New

Tertiary buttons often appear as text with generous hit areas and a subtle hover or press treatment. They still perform an action and require the same focus and activation behavior as filled buttons.

When to use it

Use it for low-priority supporting actions, such as resetting a local filter.

Know the difference

A text-like action is still a button when it changes application state rather than navigating.

WebiOSiPadOSAndroidmacOSWindowsLinuxwatchOSWear OStvOSAndroid TVvisionOS

Web

Use a native button for an action and an anchor for navigation. Preserve keyboard activation and a visible focus indicator.

iOS · iPadOS · Android

Provide a comfortable touch target, use familiar system symbols when appropriate, and show a clear pressed or selected state.

macOS · Windows · Linux

Keep pointer, keyboard, and focus behavior consistent. Common commands can additionally expose a menu item or keyboard shortcut.

watchOS · Wear OS

On a watch, use a short label and a generous target within the small display. Crown or rotary input can supplement touch for adjustable values.

tvOS · Android TV

On TV, give the focused control a prominent visual state and support remote activation; hover and precise pointer targeting are not assumed.

visionOS

In spatial interfaces, use a comfortably targetable control with a clear focus response for indirect gaze-and-pinch interaction.

Primary documentation for the pattern and its platform conventions.