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Start with only the information the process needs
Ask for the information required to complete the stated process, such as delivering a requested guide or responding to an inquiry. Avoid adding fields simply because a marketing system can store the answers. WAI’s Forms Tutorial cautions that irrelevant or excessive requests can make users more likely to abandon a form. If a field is less obvious or sensitive, explain why it is needed before the user reaches it.
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Give every control a visible, associated label
Use a descriptive, visible <label> for each text input, checkbox, radio button, select, and other form control. For an explicit association, the label’s for value must exactly match the control’s id. Clicking the label also gives users a larger target for activating the control.
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<input id="email" name="email" type="email" autocomplete="email" required>Use aria-label or aria-labelledby only where they solve a real labeling need. Unlike visible label text, these ARIA labels do not provide a label that sighted users can read on the page. A placeholder is not a replacement for a label: it disappears when a value is entered and may be difficult to see.
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Group related choices and explain the form
Put general directions before the controls
Tell people what the form is for and what happens after submission before they start entering information. Put field-specific instructions close to the relevant field. If a format matters, state it explicitly—for example, show the expected date format rather than expecting someone to infer it.
Associate help text with its control
Use aria-describedby to connect supplementary text to a control when that text helps explain its purpose, format, or requirements. The referenced element’s id must match the value in aria-describedby.
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<label for="email">Work email address</label>
<input id="email" name="email" type="email" autocomplete="email" aria-describedby="email-help">
<p id="email-help">We will send the requested guide to this address.</p>Use fieldsets for one question with several controls
When multiple controls answer one question—such as a set of radio buttons for contact preference—place them in a <fieldset> and give the group a descriptive <legend>. The legend communicates what the options have in common; separate labels still identify each individual option.
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When a form includes both required and optional fields, explain the convention and mark status in visible text. Do not rely on color or an unexplained symbol alone. If you use a symbol, explain its meaning before its first use. The HTML required attribute communicates and enforces the native required state; aria-required communicates a state to assistive technology but does not perform validation. Avoid adding redundant ARIA where native HTML already provides the same information, unless a specific compatibility need calls for it.
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Choose native or custom validation deliberately
For common constraints, use the appropriate native HTML input type and attributes. For example, type="email" provides email-oriented browser handling, and required prevents an empty required control from passing the browser’s built-in validation. Give users clear instructions about requirements rather than relying on a browser message to explain the purpose of a field.
| Approach | Useful when | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Native HTML validation | Common constraints such as a required value or an email-format input are sufficient. | Use suitable types and constraints; ensure required status and instructions are also understandable in visible text. |
| Custom validation | The form needs rules or feedback beyond the native constraints. | Provide textual errors, expose invalid state and descriptions accessibly, and ensure dynamic notifications are perceivable. |
Custom browser-side checks can help users catch mistakes, but they do not ensure data safety. WAI’s Validating Input guidance says submitted data must also be validated on the server. Treat client-side validation as user feedback, not a security boundary.
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Make errors identify the problem and the fix
After an unsuccessful submission, show a clear error summary and messages beside the relevant controls. Each message should name the field, describe what is wrong in plain language, and say how to correct it. For example, “Email address: Enter an address in the format [email protected]” is more useful than “Invalid input.” When possible, make each summary item a link to its field.
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<label for="email">Email address</label>
<input id="email" name="email" type="email" aria-describedby="email-error" aria-invalid="true" required>
<p id="email-error">Email address: Enter an address in the format [email protected].</p>In a real form, render the error association and invalid state when the field has an error; do not mark a valid field invalid pre-emptively.
Review the form with keyboard and error cases
Use this checklist before relying on the form:
- Tab through the form and confirm every control can be reached and operated with a keyboard.
- Check that the focus order follows the form’s reading and completion order.
- Confirm labels are visible and associated with the correct controls, and that grouped options have a clear legend.
- Check that general directions appear before the form and field-specific requirements arrive before they are needed.
- Submit with required fields blank, then enter malformed values such as an incorrectly formatted email address or date.
- For each error, confirm the field can be identified and corrected without relying on color alone; check that descriptions and any summary notification are perceivable.
These checks help uncover interaction problems but do not certify a form or guarantee identical behavior across every browser and assistive technology combination.
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