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<label>

Reference

The HTML <label> element represents a caption for an item in a user interface.

Associating a <label> with an input element offers some major advantages:

  • The label text is not only visually associated with its corresponding text input; it is programmatically associated with it too. This means that, for example, a screenreader will read out the label when the user is focused on the form input, making it easier for an assistive technology user to understand what data should be entered.
  • You can click the associated label to focus/activate the input, as well as the input itself. This increased hit area provides an advantage to anyone trying to activate the input, including those using a touch-screen device.

To associate the <label> with an <input> element, you need to give the <input> an id attribute. The <label> then needs a for attribute whose value is the same as the input's id.

Alternatively, you can nest the <input> directly inside the <label>, in which case the for and id attributes are not needed because the association is implicit:

<label>Do you like peas?
  <input type="checkbox" name="peas">
</label>

Attributes

This element supports the global attributes as well as the following element-specific attributes:

for: String

The id of a labelable form-related element in the same document as the <label> element. The first element in the document with an id matching the value of the for attribute is the labeled control for this label element, if it is a labelable element. If it is not labelable then the for attribute has no effect. If there are other elements which also match the id value, later in the document, they are not considered.

Note: A <label> element can have both a for attribute and a contained control element, as long as the for attribute points to the contained control element.

form: String

The <form> element with which the label is associated (its form owner). If specified, the value of the attribute is the id of a <form> element in the same document. This lets you place label elements anywhere within a document, not just as descendants of their form elements.

Usage notes

  • The form control that the label is labeling is called the labeled control of the label element. One input can be associated with multiple labels.
  • Labels are not themselves directly associated with forms. They are only indirectly associated with forms through the controls with which they're associated.
  • When a <label> is clicked or tapped and it is associated with a form control, the resulting click event is also raised for the associated control.

Accessibility concerns

Interactive content

Don't place interactive elements such as anchors or buttons inside a label. Doing so makes it difficult for people to activate the form input associated with the label.

Don't

<label for="tac">
  <input id="tac" type="checkbox" name="terms-and-conditions">
  I agree to the <a href="terms-and-conditions.html">Terms and Conditions</a>
</label>

Do

<label for="tac">
  <input id="tac" type="checkbox" name="terms-and-conditions">
  I agree to the Terms and Conditions
</label>
<p>
  <a href="terms-and-conditions.html">Read our Terms and Conditions</a>
</p>

Headings

Placing heading elements within a <label> interferes with many kinds of assistive technology, because headings are commonly used as a navigation aid. If the label's text needs to be adjusted visually, use CSS classes applied to the <label> element instead.

If a form, or a section of a form needs a title, use the <legend> element placed within a <fieldset>.

Don't

<label for="your-name">
  <h3>Your name</h3>
  <input id="your-name" name="your-name" type="text">
</label>

Do

<label class="large-label" for="your-name">
  Your name
  <input id="your-name" name="your-name" type="text">
</label>

Buttons

An <input> element with a type="button" declaration and a valid value attribute does not need a label associated with it. Doing so may actually interfere with how assistive technology parses the button input. The same applies for the <button> element.

Examples

Simple example

HTML

<label>Click me <input type="text"></label>

Result

Using the "for" attribute

HTML

<label for="username">Click me</label>
<input type="text" id="username">

Result

DesktopMobile
ChromeEdgeChromeEdge
video3Yes?No

See also