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People using screen readers are not able to see the layout of a form. To make forms
accessible, they must define explicit text labels for each form control. 

Usually the best solution is to use a `<label>` element. The label may be linked to 
by the form control:

```html
<label for="name">Full name</label>
<input type="name" id="name">
```

or the `<label>` can be wrapped around the form control:

```html
<label>
    Full name <input type="name">
</label>
```

Buttons are different, as their labels are specified by the code for the button, e.g.

```html
<input type="submit" value="Send message">
<button>Send message</button>
```

Alternatively ARIA attributes, such as `aria-label` may be used, but this information
will not be conveyed to visual users. For more information, see [W3C's guide to labeling controls](https://www.w3.org/WAI/tutorials/forms/labels/).

Hidden input fields (`<input type="hidden">`) do not require labels.
Note that the `placeholder` attribute 
[should not be used as an alternative to a label](https://www.w3.org/TR/html/sec-forms.html#the-placeholder-attribute),
nor should the `title` attribute.

## Custom roles

Note that this check considers the underlying accessible role of an element, which can be 
different from the tag itself.

For example, this `<div>` has a `role` of `button`, and so is expected to have a label, like
a button would.

```html
<div role="button"></div>
```

form-control-labels

December 2025

November 2025

Title / URL	Issues
KU Leuvenwww.kuleuven.be/english/kuleuven/	7
Student at KU Leuvenwww.kuleuven.be/english/education/student/?project=TL&pagina=Home&thema=Study&onderwerp=Studying-at	6
Admission and application — Applicationswww.kuleuven.be/english/apply?project=TL&pagina=Study&thema=Admission_application&onderwerp=How	6
First time visit: View without clicking anythingwww.kuleuven.be/english/kuleuven/	1
Studywww.kuleuven.be/english/study/	1
Ask KU Leuven — KU Leuvenwww.kuleuven.be/english/contact/Ask-KULeuven	1
Studywww.kuleuven.be/english/study/?project=TL&pagina=Home&thema=Study&onderwerp=all-about-studying	1
Programmes at KU Leuven — Studywww.kuleuven.be/english/study/programmes?project=TL&pagina=Home&thema=Banner&onderwerp=Programmes	1
Programmes at KU Leuven — Studywww.kuleuven.be/english/study/programmes?project=TL&pagina=Home&thema=Study&onderwerp=Tuition-fees	1

Ensure form controls have labels

KU Leuven

Where this issue has occurred