University of Exeter

First time visit: View without clicking anything

Life in Exeter, Devon | Study | University of Exeter

Graduation | Graduation | University of Exeter

Sport and exercise | Study | University of Exeter

Accommodation | Study | University of Exeter

Clubs and societies | Study | University of Exeter

Facts and figures | About us | University of Exeter

Overview | About us | University of Exeter

Venice International University (VIU) | Venice International University (VIU) | University of Exeter

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

August 2025

July 2025

	Title / URL	Issues
	University of Exeterwww.exeter.ac.uk/	6
	First time visit: View without clicking anythingwww.exeter.ac.uk/	6
	Life in Exeter, Devon \| Study \| University of Exeterwww.exeter.ac.uk/study/life/exeter/	5
	Graduation \| Graduation \| University of Exeterwww.exeter.ac.uk/students/graduation/	4
	Sport and exercise \| Study \| University of Exeterwww.exeter.ac.uk/study/life/sport/	4
	Accommodation \| Study \| University of Exeterwww.exeter.ac.uk/study/life/accommodation/	4
	Clubs and societies \| Study \| University of Exeterwww.exeter.ac.uk/study/life/societies/	4
	Facts and figures \| About us \| University of Exeterwww.exeter.ac.uk/about/facts/facts/	3
	Overview \| About us \| University of Exeterwww.exeter.ac.uk/about/facts/profile/	3
	Venice International University (VIU) \| Venice International University (VIU) \| University of Exeterwww.exeter.ac.uk/global/viu/	3

Ensure form controls have labels

University of Exeter

Where this issue has occurred