Search | University of Montana Western

University Communications | University of Montana Western

Office of the Provost | University of Montana Western

Upcoming Events | University of Montana Western

First time visit: View without clicking anything

Distance & Online Programs | University of Montana Western

News And Events | University of Montana Western

Faculty/Staff | University of Montana Western

Experience One - Concentrated, Active Learning | University of Montana Western

Student | University of Montana Western

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

June 2025

May 2025

University of Montana Western

Title / URL	Issues
Search \| University of Montana Westernwww.umwestern.edu/search/	2
University Communications \| University of Montana Westernwww.umwestern.edu/communications/	1
Office of the Provost \| University of Montana Westernwww.umwestern.edu/provost/	1
Upcoming Events \| University of Montana Westernwww.umwestern.edu/events/	1
First time visit: View without clicking anythingwww.umwestern.edu/	1
Distance & Online Programs \| University of Montana Westernwww.umwestern.edu/online/	1
News And Events \| University of Montana Westernwww.umwestern.edu/news-and-events/	1
Faculty/Staff \| University of Montana Westernwww.umwestern.edu/faculty/	1
Experience One - Concentrated, Active Learning \| University of Montana Westernwww.umwestern.edu/experienceOne/	1
Student \| University of Montana Westernwww.umwestern.edu/student/	1

Ensure form controls have labels

University of Montana Western

Where this issue has occurred