Web Checkbox

Video examples

Code examples

Use semantic HTML

• This semantic HTML contains all accessibility features by default.
• It uses CSS pseudo attributes to create the checkbox indicator, no Javascript.

<fieldset>
  <legend>Choose your favorite NATO letters:</legend>

  <input type="checkbox" id="alphaCheckbox">
  <label for="alphaCheckbox">Alpha</label>

  <input type="checkbox" id="bravoCheckbox">
  <label for="bravoCheckbox">Bravo</label>

  <input type="checkbox" 
         id="charlieCheckbox" 
         aria-describedby="charlieCheckboxDescription"
         checked>
  <label for="charlieCheckbox">Charlie</label>
  <div class="description" id="charlieCheckboxDescription">
    Charlie is everyone's favorite
  </div>
</fieldset>

Don’t put interactive elements inside the label

Even though this is valid HTML, it creates unpredictable results with screenreaders. A (currently) reliable method is to keep interactive elements outside the label and reference it with aria-describedby="description-id"

<fieldset>
  <legend>Legal disclaimers</legend>
  <div id="description-tc" class="description-checkbox">
    <a href="/code-of-conduct/">Read terms and conditions</a>
  </div>
  <input type="checkbox"
         id="tc-agree"
         aria-describedby="description-tc">
  <label for="tc-agree">
    I agree to the terms and conditions
  </label>
</fieldset>

Fully disabled checkbox

• An input using disabled will not be focusable with the tab key
• Arrow keys will still be able to browse disabled inputs

<fieldset>
  <legend>Choose the starcrossed NATO letters</legend>

  <input type="checkbox" id="romeoCheckbox" disabled checked>
  <label for="romeoCheckbox">Romeo</label>

  <input type="checkbox" id="julietCheckbox" disabled>
  <label for="julietCheckbox">Juliet</label>

</fieldset>

Disabled and focusable checkbox

It’s possible to use aria-disabled="true" so screen reader users can focus the checkbox. Use preventDefault() to prevent the checkbox from being checked.

<fieldset>
  <legend>Choose your favorite cities</legend>

  <input type="checkbox" id="limaCheckbox" aria-disabled="true" checked>
  <label for="limaCheckbox">Lima</label>

  <input type="checkbox" id="quebecCheckbox" aria-disabled="true">
  <label for="quebecCheckbox">Quebec</label>

</fieldset>

When you can’t use semantic HTML

This custom checkbox requires extra attributes and event listeners.

<div role="checkbox" tabindex="0" aria-checked="true">
  Alpha
</div>

Speciality checkboxes

Sometimes a design may call for a card type checkbox.

• Its core should still be a semantic checkbox input
• Use aria-describedby to read extra content after the the name, role and state

<ul class="cards">
  <li class="card interactive">
    <input type="checkbox"
           id="deltaCheckboxCard"
           aria-describedby="descriptionDelta" >
    <label for="deltaCheckboxCard">
      Delta
    </label>
    <div class="extended-description"
         id="descriptionDelta">
      Delta (prounounced: <strong>dell</strong>-tah)
      is the fourth letter of the NATO alphabet.
    </div>
  </li>
  <li class="card interactive">
    <input type="checkbox"
           id="echoCheckboxCard"
           aria-describedby="descriptionEcho" >
    <label for="echoCheckboxCard">Echo</label>
    <div class="extended-description"
         id="descriptionEcho">
      Echo (prounounced: <strong>eck</strong>-oh)
      is the fifth letter of the NATO alphabet.
    </div>
  </li>
</ul>

Developer notes

Name

• label text must describe the checkbox input.
• Use aria-describedby="description-id" for hints or additional descriptions
• aria-label="Checkbox input purpose" can also be used (as a last resort)

Role

• By default, semantic HTML checkbox inputs identify as a checkbox
• Use role="checkbox" for custom elements

Group

• Semantic HTML
  • <fieldset> wraps a checkbox group
  • <legend> describes the group’s purpose
  • Each <label> must include for="input-id" to be associated with its input
• Custom elements
  • Use role="group" in the place of fieldset
  • Use aria-labelledby="label-id" to associate an element as a label
  • aria-label="Group purpose" can also be used if there’s no label with an ID

State

• Semantic HTML
  • Use checked for native HTML
  • Use the disabled state for inactive checkboxes
• Custom element
  • Use aria-checked="true/false" to express state
  • Use aria-disabled="true" to declare inactive elements

Focus

• Focus must be visible
• Custom elements will require keyboard event listeners

Related checkbox entries

• Accessibility training: Checkbox
• Android criteria: Checkbox
• Design criteria: Checkbox
• iOS criteria: Checkbox
• Web demo: Checkbox