Labels or Instructions

What it asks

When the user is asked to provide input — a text field, checkbox, radio, select, date picker, file picker — there must be a label or instruction that tells the user what’s expected. The label can be visible text, an <label> element, an aria-label, or aria-labelledby; instructions can include the required format, allowed values, or examples.

Required fields, expected formats (“DD/MM/YYYY”), and special constraints (“minimum 8 characters, mixed case”) all fall under this SC.

How to meet it

• Pair every <input>, <textarea>, and <select> with a <label for="…"> whose for matches the input id.
• Never use placeholder text as the only label — placeholders disappear on focus and have poor contrast.
• Indicate required fields visibly (asterisk, the word “required”, or aria-required="true") and explain the convention near the top of the form.
• Specify the expected format up front, not after the user makes a mistake: “Date (DD/MM/YYYY)” or “Phone number, e.g. 555-123-4567.”
• For groups of checkboxes or radios, use <fieldset> and <legend> to label the group.
• For icon-only or filter-bar inputs, use aria-label to give a meaningful name.

Common failures

• Forms where placeholder text is the only label, vanishing the moment the user starts typing.
• Required fields marked only with red asterisks and no programmatic association.
• Date-of-birth inputs that expect a particular format and only tell the user after they fail validation.
• Search inputs labelled with a magnifying-glass icon and no accessible name.
• Login forms where username and password fields are positioned visually next to labels but the labels are not programmatically associated.

Why it matters

Forms are where most users transact with a website — sign up, check out, contact, support, schedule. Unlabelled or under-labelled forms exclude screen-reader users entirely, because they cannot tell what data each box wants. They also fail dyslexic users, who lose context the moment a placeholder disappears, and cognitive-disability users, who benefit from format guidance up front.

Labels are also load-bearing for password managers, autofill, and voice-control software, all of which use label text to match fields. A well-labelled form benefits everyone.