Table of contents
For any element that requires user input or action, provide concise labels and/or instructions.
What you need to know
- The purpose of this success criterion is to make it easy to understand what data input or action is being asked for. For example, rather than simply labeling a form field as “email,” indicate “your preferred email for receiving our newsletter.”
- Every element that allows for user input should have clear, concise, descriptive labels and, where applicable, instructions.
- A label could be “First Name.”
- An instruction could be “All fields marked with an * are required.”
- It’s very important not to make labels or instructions too long or complex. This slows down the process of inputting data.
What you need to do
- Assign a visible label for every form field or area of user engagement/control.
- Programmatically associate labels with the appropriate form fields.
- Don’t overextend instructions–a few words should be enough.
- Provide examples of expected input formats or structure data input so that the expected format is entered.
- Make very clear which fields are required.
Related Resource
Provide Accessible Labels and Instructions from Harvard University
