Study at Adelaide

University Library | University of Adelaide

Researcher Portal | University of Adelaide

First time visit: View without clicking anything

Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing | University of Adelaide

Australian Institute for Machine Learning (AIML) | University of Adelaide

Alumni | University of Adelaide

Home | Degree Finder

Latest Research News | Research & Innovation | University of Adelaide

Current Students | University of Adelaide

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

September 2025

August 2025

University of Adelaide

	Title / URL	Issues
	Study at Adelaidewww.adelaide.edu.au/study	8
	University Library \| University of Adelaidewww.adelaide.edu.au/library/	2
	Researcher Portal \| University of Adelaidewww.adelaide.edu.au/staff/research/	2
	First time visit: View without clicking anythingwww.adelaide.edu.au/front/international?adobe_mc_sdid=SDID%3D3D71FED0F32701F9-54B213AAACE54B6E%7CMCORGID%3DBA023B045D5A83160A495E49%40AdobeOrg%7CTS%3D1754015946	1
	Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing \| University of Adelaidewww.adelaide.edu.au/ipas/	1
	Australian Institute for Machine Learning (AIML) \| University of Adelaidewww.adelaide.edu.au/aiml/	1
	Alumni \| University of Adelaidewww.adelaide.edu.au/alumni/	1
	Home \| Degree Finderwww.adelaide.edu.au/degree-finder/	1
	Latest Research News \| Research & Innovation \| University of Adelaidewww.adelaide.edu.au/research/impact	1
	Current Students \| University of Adelaidewww.adelaide.edu.au/student/	1

Ensure form controls have labels

University of Adelaide

Where this issue has occurred