Components
Checkboxes
Use checkboxes when the user can select more than one option from a group. Make clear with helper text that this is the case. Use radio buttons when the user can select only one choice from a group.
Types
Checkbox
States
Validation status
HTML code snippet
<!--States are shown for demonstration purposes only-->
<h4>
States
</h4>
<div class="m-form-field m-form-field--checkbox">
<input class="a-checkbox" type="checkbox" id="test_checkbox">
<label class="a-label" for="test_checkbox">Enabled</label>
</div>
<br>
<!--Hover-->
<div class="m-form-field m-form-field--checkbox">
<input class="a-checkbox hover" type="checkbox" id="test_checkbox_basic_hover">
<label class="a-label" for="test_checkbox_basic_hover">Hover</label>
</div>
<br>
<!--Focus-->
<div class="m-form-field m-form-field--checkbox">
<input class="a-checkbox focus" type="checkbox" id="test_checkbox_basic_focus">
<label class="a-label" for="test_checkbox_basic_focus">Focus</label>
</div>
<br>
<!--Selected-->
<div class="m-form-field m-form-field--checkbox">
<input class="a-checkbox" type="checkbox" id="test_checkbox_basic_checked" checked>
<label class="a-label" for="test_checkbox_basic_checked">Selected</label>
</div>
<br>
<!--Disabled-->
<div class="m-form-field m-form-field--checkbox">
<input class="a-checkbox" type="checkbox" id="test_checkbox_basic_disabled" disabled>
<label class="a-label" for="test_checkbox_basic_disabled">Disabled</label>
</div>
<br>
<!--Disabled/selected-->
<div class="m-form-field m-form-field--checkbox">
<input class="a-checkbox" type="checkbox" id="test_checkbox_basic_disabled_selected" disabled checked>
<label class="a-label" for="test_checkbox_basic_disabled_selected">Disabled/selected</label>
</div>
<br><br>
<h4>
Validation status
</h4>
<!--Success-->
<div class="m-form-field
m-form-field--checkbox
m-form-field--checkbox-success">
<input class="a-checkbox" type="checkbox" id="test_checkbox_success">
<label class="a-label" for="test_checkbox_success">Success</label>
</div>
<br>
<!--Warning-->
<div class="m-form-field
m-form-field--checkbox
m-form-field--checkbox-warning">
<input class="a-checkbox" type="checkbox" id="test_checkbox_warning">
<label class="a-label" for="test_checkbox_warning">Warning</label>
</div>
<br>
<!--Error-->
<div class="m-form-field
m-form-field--checkbox
m-form-field--checkbox-error">
<input class="a-checkbox" type="checkbox" id="test_checkbox_error">
<label class="a-label" for="test_checkbox_error">Error</label>
</div>Checkbox (with helper text)
HTML code snippet
<div class="m-form-field m-form-field--checkbox">
<input class="a-radio" type="checkbox" id="test_checkbox_basic_helper">
<label class="a-label" for="test_checkbox_basic_helper">
Label
<small class="a-label__helper">
(This is optional helper text)
</small>
</label>
</div>Large target area checkbox
For better usability, consider using the checkboxes with large target areas. These are easier to interact with (especially on smaller screens) and harder to miss. They are especially desirable when the form will have heavy mobile usage. Given the amount of real estate they occupy, they’re probably not suited for all use cases; for example, they may not work well for terms of service agreement checkboxes.
HTML code snippet
<div class="m-form-field
m-form-field--checkbox
m-form-field--lg-target">
<input class="a-checkbox" type="checkbox" id="test_checkbox_lg_default">
<label class="a-label" for="test_checkbox_lg_default">Enabled</label>
</div>
<br>
<!--Hover-->
<div class="m-form-field
m-form-field--checkbox
m-form-field--lg-target">
<input class="a-checkbox hover" type="checkbox" id="test_checkbox_lg_hover">
<label class="a-label" for="test_checkbox_lg_hover">Hover</label>
</div>
<br>
<!--Focus-->
<div class="m-form-field
m-form-field--checkbox
m-form-field--lg-target">
<input class="a-checkbox focus" type="checkbox" id="test_checkbox_lg_focus">
<label class="a-label" for="test_checkbox_lg_focus">Focus</label>
</div>
<br>
<!--Selected-->
<div class="m-form-field
m-form-field--checkbox
m-form-field--lg-target">
<input class="a-checkbox" type="checkbox" id="test_checkbox_lg_checked" checked>
<label class="a-label" for="test_checkbox_lg_checked">Selected</label>
</div>
<br>
<!--Disabled-->
<div class="m-form-field
m-form-field--checkbox
m-form-field--lg-target">
<input class="a-checkbox" type="checkbox" id="test_checkbox_lg_disabled" disabled>
<label class="a-label" for="test_checkbox_lg_disabled">Disabled</label>
</div>
<br>
<!--Disabled/Selected-->
<!--
<div class="m-form-field
m-form-field--checkbox
m-form-field--lg-target">
<input class="a-checkbox"
type="checkbox"
id="test_checkbox_lg_disabled"
disabled
checked>
<label class="a-label" for="test_checkbox_lg_disabled">Disabled/Selected</label>
</div>
-->Large target area checkbox (with helper text)
HTML code snippet
<div class="m-form-field
m-form-field--checkbox
m-form-field--lg-target">
<input class="a-checkbox" type="radio" id="test_checkbox_lg_helper">
<label class="a-label" for="test_checkbox_lg_helper">
Label
<small class="a-label__helper">
(This is optional helper text)
</small>
</label>
</div>Guidelines
Content guidelines
- Label text should be concise
Stylistic guidelines
- Text spacing should inform spacing of checkboxes and checkbox should be vertically centered with the first line of text in an option.
Behavior
Selecting the checkbox or touching the label text next to it should toggle the state of the checkbox on and off.
To optimize usability, consider using checkboxes with large target areas. If these won’t fit into the design and the default style shown below is used, make sure the target area is at least 45 x 45px and that it includes the text label.
Accessibility
To optimize screen reader accessibility, lay out checkboxes vertically rather than horizontally.