What is the best way to receive a value from the user that is restricted to a small list?

The most effective method to receive a value from the user that is limited to a small list is by using a radio button. Radio buttons are designed for selecting one option from a set of predefined, mutually exclusive choices. This characteristic is particularly useful when the number of options is small, ensuring that users can easily see all the choices at once without the need for additional clicks or interactions.

When using radio buttons, users can clearly understand their choices, as each button is labeled, and they receive immediate visual feedback on their selection. This interface is typically clean and straightforward, reducing user confusion when making a decision. Given the context of needing to restrict user input to a specific list, radio buttons provide a user-friendly way to facilitate that selection.

In contrast, dropdown lists may require additional interactions to make a selection and could be cumbersome for users when the list of options is short. Toggle switches are best for binary choices and not suited for multiple distinct options. Check boxes, while useful for selecting multiple items, do not conform to the requirement of choosing only one option from a small list. Thus, radio buttons are the preferred choice for this scenario.