Checkboxes
Let users select one or more options by using the checkboxes component.
<div class="govuk-form-group">
<fieldset class="govuk-fieldset" aria-describedby="waste-hint">
<legend class="govuk-fieldset__legend govuk-fieldset__legend--l">
<h1 class="govuk-fieldset__heading">
Which types of waste do you transport?
</h1>
</legend>
<div id="waste-hint" class="govuk-hint">
Select all that apply
</div>
<div class="govuk-checkboxes" data-module="govuk-checkboxes">
<div class="govuk-checkboxes__item">
<input class="govuk-checkboxes__input" id="waste" name="waste" type="checkbox" value="carcasses">
<label class="govuk-label govuk-checkboxes__label" for="waste">
Waste from animal carcasses
</label>
</div>
<div class="govuk-checkboxes__item">
<input class="govuk-checkboxes__input" id="waste-2" name="waste" type="checkbox" value="mines">
<label class="govuk-label govuk-checkboxes__label" for="waste-2">
Waste from mines or quarries
</label>
</div>
<div class="govuk-checkboxes__item">
<input class="govuk-checkboxes__input" id="waste-3" name="waste" type="checkbox" value="farm">
<label class="govuk-label govuk-checkboxes__label" for="waste-3">
Farm or agricultural waste
</label>
</div>
</div>
</fieldset>
</div>This uses a Ruby gem maintained by the community. Options for this helper.
<%
# waste_types would normally be defined in code elsewhere,
# as either an activerecord collection or an array of structs:
waste_types = [
OpenStruct.new(id: "carcasses", name: "Waste from animal carcasses"),
OpenStruct.new(id: "mines", name: "Waste from mines or quarries"),
OpenStruct.new(id: "farm", name: "Farm or agricultural waste")
]
%>
<%= f.govuk_collection_check_boxes :waste, waste_types,
:id,
:name,
legend: {
text: "Which types of waste do you transport?",
tag: "h1",
size: "l"
},
hint: {
text: "Select all that apply."
} %>{% from "govuk/components/checkboxes/macro.njk" import govukCheckboxes %}
{{ govukCheckboxes({
name: "waste",
fieldset: {
legend: {
text: "Which types of waste do you transport?",
isPageHeading: true,
classes: "govuk-fieldset__legend--l"
}
},
hint: {
text: "Select all that apply"
},
items: [
{
value: "carcasses",
text: "Waste from animal carcasses"
},
{
value: "mines",
text: "Waste from mines or quarries"
},
{
value: "farm",
text: "Farm or agricultural waste"
}
]
}) }}When to use this component
Use the checkboxes component when you need to help users:
- select multiple options from a list
- toggle a single option on or off
When not to use this component
Do not use the checkboxes component if users can only choose one option from a selection. In this case, use the Radios component.
How it works
Always position checkboxes to the left of their labels. This makes them easier to find, especially for users of screen magnifiers.
Unlike with radios, users can select multiple options from a list of checkboxes. Do not assume that users will know how many options they can select based on the visual difference between radios and checkboxes alone.
If needed, add a hint explaining this, for example, ‘Select all that apply’.
Do not pre-select checkbox options as this makes it more likely that users will:
- not realise they’ve missed a question
- submit the wrong answer
Order checkbox options alphabetically by default.
In some cases, it can be helpful to order them from most-to-least common options. For example, you could order options for ‘What is your nationality?’ based on population size.
Group checkboxes together in a <fieldset> with a <legend> that describes them, as shown in the examples on this page. This is usually a question, like ‘How would you like to be contacted?’.
If you’re asking one question on the page
If you’re asking just one question per page as recommended, you can set the contents of the <legend> as the page heading. This is good practice as it means that users of screen readers will only hear the contents once.
Read more about why and how to set legends as headings.
There are 2 ways to use the checkboxes component. You can use HTML or, if you’re using Nunjucks or the GOV.UK Prototype Kit, you can use the Nunjucks macro.
<div class="govuk-form-group">
<fieldset class="govuk-fieldset" aria-describedby="waste-hint">
<legend class="govuk-fieldset__legend govuk-fieldset__legend--l">
<h1 class="govuk-fieldset__heading">
Which types of waste do you transport?
</h1>
</legend>
<div id="waste-hint" class="govuk-hint">
Select all that apply
</div>
<div class="govuk-checkboxes" data-module="govuk-checkboxes">
<div class="govuk-checkboxes__item">
<input class="govuk-checkboxes__input" id="waste" name="waste" type="checkbox" value="carcasses">
<label class="govuk-label govuk-checkboxes__label" for="waste">
Waste from animal carcasses
</label>
</div>
<div class="govuk-checkboxes__item">
<input class="govuk-checkboxes__input" id="waste-2" name="waste" type="checkbox" value="mines">
<label class="govuk-label govuk-checkboxes__label" for="waste-2">
Waste from mines or quarries
</label>
</div>
<div class="govuk-checkboxes__item">
<input class="govuk-checkboxes__input" id="waste-3" name="waste" type="checkbox" value="farm">
<label class="govuk-label govuk-checkboxes__label" for="waste-3">
Farm or agricultural waste
</label>
</div>
</div>
</fieldset>
</div>This uses a Ruby gem maintained by the community. Options for this helper.
<%
# waste_types would normally be defined in code elsewhere,
# as either an activerecord collection or an array of structs:
waste_types = [
OpenStruct.new(id: "carcasses", name: "Waste from animal carcasses"),
OpenStruct.new(id: "mines", name: "Waste from mines or quarries"),
OpenStruct.new(id: "farm", name: "Farm or agricultural waste")
]
%>
<%= f.govuk_collection_check_boxes :waste, waste_types,
:id,
:name,
legend: {
text: "Which types of waste do you transport?",
tag: "h1",
size: "l"
},
hint: {
text: "Select all that apply."
} %>{% from "govuk/components/checkboxes/macro.njk" import govukCheckboxes %}
{{ govukCheckboxes({
name: "waste",
fieldset: {
legend: {
text: "Which types of waste do you transport?",
isPageHeading: true,
classes: "govuk-fieldset__legend--l"
}
},
hint: {
text: "Select all that apply"
},
items: [
{
value: "carcasses",
text: "Waste from animal carcasses"
},
{
value: "mines",
text: "Waste from mines or quarries"
},
{
value: "farm",
text: "Farm or agricultural waste"
}
]
}) }}If you’re asking more than one question on the page
If you’re asking more than one question on the page, do not set the contents of the <legend> as the page heading. Read more about asking multiple questions on Question pages.
<div class="govuk-form-group">
<fieldset class="govuk-fieldset" aria-describedby="waste-hint">
<legend class="govuk-fieldset__legend">
Which types of waste do you transport?
</legend>
<div id="waste-hint" class="govuk-hint">
Select all that apply
</div>
<div class="govuk-checkboxes" data-module="govuk-checkboxes">
<div class="govuk-checkboxes__item">
<input class="govuk-checkboxes__input" id="waste" name="waste" type="checkbox" value="carcasses">
<label class="govuk-label govuk-checkboxes__label" for="waste">
Waste from animal carcasses
</label>
</div>
<div class="govuk-checkboxes__item">
<input class="govuk-checkboxes__input" id="waste-2" name="waste" type="checkbox" value="mines">
<label class="govuk-label govuk-checkboxes__label" for="waste-2">
Waste from mines or quarries
</label>
</div>
<div class="govuk-checkboxes__item">
<input class="govuk-checkboxes__input" id="waste-3" name="waste" type="checkbox" value="farm">
<label class="govuk-label govuk-checkboxes__label" for="waste-3">
Farm or agricultural waste
</label>
</div>
</div>
</fieldset>
</div>This uses a Ruby gem maintained by the community. Options for this helper.
<%
# waste_types would normally be defined in code elsewhere,
# as either an activerecord collection or an array of structs:
waste_types = [
OpenStruct.new(id: "carcasses", name: "Waste from animal carcasses"),
OpenStruct.new(id: "mines", name: "Waste from mines or quarries"),
OpenStruct.new(id: "farm", name: "Farm or agricultural waste")
]
%>
<%= f.govuk_collection_check_boxes :waste, waste_types,
:id,
:name,
legend: {
text: "Which types of waste do you transport?"
},
hint: {
text: "Select all that apply."
} %>{% from "govuk/components/checkboxes/macro.njk" import govukCheckboxes %}
{{ govukCheckboxes({
name: "waste",
fieldset: {
legend: {
text: "Which types of waste do you transport?"
}
},
hint: {
text: "Select all that apply"
},
items: [
{
value: "carcasses",
text: "Waste from animal carcasses"
},
{
value: "mines",
text: "Waste from mines or quarries"
},
{
value: "farm",
text: "Farm or agricultural waste"
}
]
}) }}Checkbox items with hints
You can add hints to checkbox items to provide additional information about the options.
Keep each hint to a single short sentence, without any full stops. Screen readers will read out the entire text when users interact with an item. This could frustrate users if the text is long.
Do not use links in hint text. While screen readers will read out the link text when describing the item, they usually do not tell users the text is a link.
<div class="govuk-form-group">
<fieldset class="govuk-fieldset" aria-describedby="nationality-hint">
<legend class="govuk-fieldset__legend govuk-fieldset__legend--l">
<h1 class="govuk-fieldset__heading">
What is your nationality?
</h1>
</legend>
<div id="nationality-hint" class="govuk-hint">
If you have dual nationality, select all options that are relevant to you.
</div>
<div class="govuk-checkboxes" data-module="govuk-checkboxes">
<div class="govuk-checkboxes__item">
<input class="govuk-checkboxes__input" id="nationality" name="nationality" type="checkbox" value="british" aria-describedby="nationality-item-hint">
<label class="govuk-label govuk-checkboxes__label" for="nationality">
British
</label>
<div id="nationality-item-hint" class="govuk-hint govuk-checkboxes__hint">
including English, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish
</div>
</div>
<div class="govuk-checkboxes__item">
<input class="govuk-checkboxes__input" id="nationality-2" name="nationality" type="checkbox" value="irish">
<label class="govuk-label govuk-checkboxes__label" for="nationality-2">
Irish
</label>
</div>
<div class="govuk-checkboxes__item">
<input class="govuk-checkboxes__input" id="nationality-3" name="nationality" type="checkbox" value="other">
<label class="govuk-label govuk-checkboxes__label" for="nationality-3">
Citizen of another country
</label>
</div>
</div>
</fieldset>
</div>This uses a Ruby gem maintained by the community. Options for this helper.
<%
# nationalities would normally be defined in code elsewhere,
# as either an activerecord collection or an array of structs:
nationalities = [
OpenStruct.new(id: "British", name: "British", hint: "including English, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish"),
OpenStruct.new(id: "irish", name: "Irish"),
OpenStruct.new(id: "other", name: "Citizen of another country")
]
%>
<%= f.govuk_collection_check_boxes :nationality, nationalities,
:id,
:name,
:hint,
legend: {
text: "What is your nationality?",
tag: "h1",
size: "l"
},
hint: {
text: "If you have dual nationality, select all options that are relevant to you."
} %>{% from "govuk/components/checkboxes/macro.njk" import govukCheckboxes %}
{{ govukCheckboxes({
name: "nationality",
fieldset: {
legend: {
text: "What is your nationality?",
isPageHeading: true,
classes: "govuk-fieldset__legend--l"
}
},
hint: {
text: "If you have dual nationality, select all options that are relevant to you."
},
items: [
{
value: "british",
text: "British",
hint: {
text: "including English, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish"
}
},
{
value: "irish",
text: "Irish"
},
{
value: "other",
text: "Citizen of another country"
}
]
}) }}Add an option for ‘none’
When ‘none’ would be a valid answer, give users the option to check a box to say none of the other options apply to them – without this option, users would have to leave all of the boxes unchecked. Giving users this option also makes sure they do not skip the question by accident.
Remember to start by asking one question per page in your service. You might be able to remove the need for a ‘none’ option by asking the user a better question or filtering them out with a ‘filter question’ beforehand. The GOV.UK Service Manual has guidance on designing good questions.
Show the ‘none’ option last. Separate it from the other options using a divider. The text is usually the word ‘or’.
Write a label that repeats the key part of the question.
For example, for the question ‘Will you be travelling to any of these countries?’, say ‘No, I will not be travelling to any of these countries.’
To enable some JavaScript that unchecks all other checkboxes when the user clicks ‘None’, add the exclusive behaviour to the ‘none’ checkbox.
<div class="govuk-form-group">
<fieldset class="govuk-fieldset" aria-describedby="countries-hint">
<legend class="govuk-fieldset__legend govuk-fieldset__legend--l">
<h1 class="govuk-fieldset__heading">
Will you be travelling to any of these countries?
</h1>
</legend>
<div id="countries-hint" class="govuk-hint">
Select all countries that apply
</div>
<div class="govuk-checkboxes" data-module="govuk-checkboxes">
<div class="govuk-checkboxes__item">
<input class="govuk-checkboxes__input" id="countries" name="countries" type="checkbox" value="france">
<label class="govuk-label govuk-checkboxes__label" for="countries">
France
</label>
</div>
<div class="govuk-checkboxes__item">
<input class="govuk-checkboxes__input" id="countries-2" name="countries" type="checkbox" value="portugal">
<label class="govuk-label govuk-checkboxes__label" for="countries-2">
Portugal
</label>
</div>
<div class="govuk-checkboxes__item">
<input class="govuk-checkboxes__input" id="countries-3" name="countries" type="checkbox" value="spain">
<label class="govuk-label govuk-checkboxes__label" for="countries-3">
Spain
</label>
</div>
<div class="govuk-checkboxes__divider">or</div>
<div class="govuk-checkboxes__item">
<input class="govuk-checkboxes__input" id="countries-5" name="countries" type="checkbox" value="none" data-behaviour="exclusive">
<label class="govuk-label govuk-checkboxes__label" for="countries-5">
No, I will not be travelling to any of these countries
</label>
</div>
</div>
</fieldset>
</div>This uses a Ruby gem maintained by the community. Options for this helper.
<%
# Note: the first checkbox needs to have `link_errors: true`.
%>
<%= f.govuk_check_boxes_fieldset :country_ids,
legend: {
text: "Will you be travelling to any of these countries?",
tag: "h1",
size: "l"
},
hint: {
text: "Select all countries that apply"
} do %>
<%= f.govuk_check_box :countries,
:france,
label: { text: "France" },
link_errors: true %>
<%= f.govuk_check_box :countries,
:portugal,
label: { text: "Portugal" } %>
<%= f.govuk_check_box :countries,
:spain,
label: { text: "Spain" } %>
<%= f.govuk_check_box_divider %>
<%= f.govuk_check_box :countries,
:none,
exclusive: true,
label: { text: "No, I will not be travelling to any of these countries " } %>
<% end %>{% from "govuk/components/checkboxes/macro.njk" import govukCheckboxes %}
{{ govukCheckboxes({
name: "countries",
fieldset: {
legend: {
text: "Will you be travelling to any of these countries?",
isPageHeading: true,
classes: "govuk-fieldset__legend--l"
}
},
hint: {
text: "Select all countries that apply"
},
items: [
{
value: "france",
text: "France"
},
{
value: "portugal",
text: "Portugal"
},
{
value: "spain",
text: "Spain"
},
{
divider: "or"
},
{
value: "none",
text: "No, I will not be travelling to any of these countries",
behaviour: "exclusive"
}
]
}) }}If JavaScript is unavailable, and a user selects both the ‘none’ checkbox and another checkbox, display an error message.
<div class="govuk-form-group govuk-form-group--error">
<fieldset class="govuk-fieldset" aria-describedby="countries-error">
<legend class="govuk-fieldset__legend govuk-fieldset__legend--l">
<h1 class="govuk-fieldset__heading">
Will you be travelling to any of these countries?
</h1>
</legend>
<p id="countries-error" class="govuk-error-message">
<span class="govuk-visually-hidden">Error:</span> Select countries you will be travelling to, or select ‘No, I will not be travelling to any of these countries’
</p>
<div class="govuk-checkboxes" data-module="govuk-checkboxes">
<div class="govuk-checkboxes__item">
<input class="govuk-checkboxes__input" id="countries" name="countries" type="checkbox" value="france" checked>
<label class="govuk-label govuk-checkboxes__label" for="countries">
France
</label>
</div>
<div class="govuk-checkboxes__item">
<input class="govuk-checkboxes__input" id="countries-2" name="countries" type="checkbox" value="portugal">
<label class="govuk-label govuk-checkboxes__label" for="countries-2">
Portugal
</label>
</div>
<div class="govuk-checkboxes__item">
<input class="govuk-checkboxes__input" id="countries-3" name="countries" type="checkbox" value="spain">
<label class="govuk-label govuk-checkboxes__label" for="countries-3">
Spain
</label>
</div>
<div class="govuk-checkboxes__divider">or</div>
<div class="govuk-checkboxes__item">
<input class="govuk-checkboxes__input" id="countries-5" name="countries" type="checkbox" value="none" checked data-behaviour="exclusive">
<label class="govuk-label govuk-checkboxes__label" for="countries-5">
No, I will not be travelling to any of these countries
</label>
</div>
</div>
</fieldset>
</div>This uses a Ruby gem maintained by the community. Options for this helper.
<%
# In the model, add this validation:
#
# validates :country_ids, presence: {
# message: "Select countries you will be travelling to, or select ‘No, I will not be travelling to any of these countries’"
# }
#
# Note: the first checkbox needs to have `link_errors: true`.
%>
<%= f.govuk_check_boxes_fieldset :country_ids,
legend: {
text: "Will you be travelling to any of these countries?",
tag: "h1",
size: "l"
},
hint: {
text: "Select all countries that apply"
} do %>
<%= f.govuk_check_box :countries,
:france,
label: { text: "France" },
link_errors: true %>
<%= f.govuk_check_box :countries,
:portugal,
label: { text: "Portugal" } %>
<%= f.govuk_check_box :countries,
:spain,
label: { text: "Spain" } %>
<%= f.govuk_check_box_divider %>
<%= f.govuk_check_box :countries,
:none,
exclusive: true,
label: { text: "No, I will not be travelling to any of these countries " } %>
<% end %>{% from "govuk/components/checkboxes/macro.njk" import govukCheckboxes %}
{{ govukCheckboxes({
name: "countries",
fieldset: {
legend: {
text: "Will you be travelling to any of these countries?",
isPageHeading: true,
classes: "govuk-fieldset__legend--l"
}
},
errorMessage: {
text: "Select countries you will be travelling to, or select ‘No, I will not be travelling to any of these countries’"
},
items: [
{
value: "france",
text: "France",
checked: true
},
{
value: "portugal",
text: "Portugal"
},
{
value: "spain",
text: "Spain"
},
{
divider: "or"
},
{
value: "none",
text: "No, I will not be travelling to any of these countries",
checked: true,
behaviour: "exclusive"
}
]
}) }}Conditionally revealing a related question
You can ask the user a related question when they select a particular checkbox, so they only see the question when it’s relevant to them.
This might make 2 related questions easier to answer by grouping them on the same page. For example, you could reveal a phone number input when the user selects the ‘Contact me by phone’ option.
<div class="govuk-form-group">
<fieldset class="govuk-fieldset" aria-describedby="contact-hint">
<legend class="govuk-fieldset__legend govuk-fieldset__legend--l">
<h1 class="govuk-fieldset__heading">
How would you like to be contacted?
</h1>
</legend>
<div id="contact-hint" class="govuk-hint">
Select all options that are relevant to you
</div>
<div class="govuk-checkboxes" data-module="govuk-checkboxes">
<div class="govuk-checkboxes__item">
<input class="govuk-checkboxes__input" id="contact" name="contact" type="checkbox" value="email" data-aria-controls="conditional-contact">
<label class="govuk-label govuk-checkboxes__label" for="contact">
Email
</label>
</div>
<div class="govuk-checkboxes__conditional govuk-checkboxes__conditional--hidden" id="conditional-contact">
<div class="govuk-form-group">
<label class="govuk-label" for="contact-by-email">
Email address
</label>
<input class="govuk-input govuk-!-width-one-third" id="contact-by-email" name="contactByEmail" type="email" spellcheck="false" autocomplete="email">
</div>
</div>
<div class="govuk-checkboxes__item">
<input class="govuk-checkboxes__input" id="contact-2" name="contact" type="checkbox" value="phone" data-aria-controls="conditional-contact-2">
<label class="govuk-label govuk-checkboxes__label" for="contact-2">
Phone
</label>
</div>
<div class="govuk-checkboxes__conditional govuk-checkboxes__conditional--hidden" id="conditional-contact-2">
<div class="govuk-form-group">
<label class="govuk-label" for="contact-by-phone">
Phone number
</label>
<input class="govuk-input govuk-!-width-one-third" id="contact-by-phone" name="contactByPhone" type="tel" autocomplete="tel">
</div>
</div>
<div class="govuk-checkboxes__item">
<input class="govuk-checkboxes__input" id="contact-3" name="contact" type="checkbox" value="text message" data-aria-controls="conditional-contact-3">
<label class="govuk-label govuk-checkboxes__label" for="contact-3">
Text message
</label>
</div>
<div class="govuk-checkboxes__conditional govuk-checkboxes__conditional--hidden" id="conditional-contact-3">
<div class="govuk-form-group">
<label class="govuk-label" for="contact-by-text">
Mobile phone number
</label>
<input class="govuk-input govuk-!-width-one-third" id="contact-by-text" name="contactByText" type="tel" autocomplete="tel">
</div>
</div>
</div>
</fieldset>
</div>This uses a Ruby gem maintained by the community. Options for this helper.
<%= f.govuk_check_boxes_fieldset :contact,
legend: {
text: "How would you like to be contacted?",
size: "l",
tag: "h1"
},
hint: {
text: "Select all options that are relevant to you."
}
do %>
<%= f.govuk_check_box :contact, :email,
label: { text: "Email" },
link_errors: true do %>
<%= f.govuk_text_field :email_address,
label: { text: 'Email address' } %>
<% end %>
<%= f.govuk_check_box :contact, :phone,
label: { text: "Phone" } do %>
<%= f.govuk_text_field :phone_number,
label: { text: 'Phone number' } %>
<% end %>
<%= f.govuk_check_box :contact, :text_message,
label: { text: "Text message" } %>
<%= f.govuk_text_field :sms_number,
label: { text: 'Mobile phone number' } %>
<% end %>
<% end %>{% from "govuk/components/checkboxes/macro.njk" import govukCheckboxes %}
{% from "govuk/components/input/macro.njk" import govukInput %}
{% set emailHtml %}
{{ govukInput({
id: "contact-by-email",
name: "contactByEmail",
type: "email",
autocomplete: "email",
spellcheck: false,
classes: "govuk-!-width-one-third",
label: {
text: "Email address"
}
}) }}
{% endset -%}
{% set phoneHtml %}
{{ govukInput({
id: "contact-by-phone",
name: "contactByPhone",
type: "tel",
autocomplete: "tel",
classes: "govuk-!-width-one-third",
label: {
text: "Phone number"
}
}) }}
{% endset -%}
{% set textHtml %}
{{ govukInput({
id: "contact-by-text",
name: "contactByText",
type: "tel",
autocomplete: "tel",
classes: "govuk-!-width-one-third",
label: {
text: "Mobile phone number"
}
}) }}
{% endset -%}
{{ govukCheckboxes({
name: "contact",
fieldset: {
legend: {
text: "How would you like to be contacted?",
isPageHeading: true,
classes: "govuk-fieldset__legend--l"
}
},
hint: {
text: "Select all options that are relevant to you"
},
items: [
{
value: "email",
text: "Email",
conditional: {
html: emailHtml
}
},
{
value: "phone",
text: "Phone",
conditional: {
html: phoneHtml
}
},
{
value: "text message",
text: "Text message",
conditional: {
html: textHtml
}
}
]
}) }}Keep it simple. If the related question is complicated or has more than one part, show it on the next page in the process instead.
You should only conditionally reveal questions - do not show or hide anything that is not a question.
Known issues
Users are not always notified when a conditionally revealed question is shown or hidden. This fails WCAG 2.2 success criterion 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value.
However, we found that screen reader users did not have difficulty answering a conditionally revealed question - as long as it’s kept simple. It confused our test users when we conditionally revealed complicated questions to them.
We’ll keep looking for opportunities to learn more about how conditionally revealed questions should be used in services.
Smaller checkboxes
Use standard-sized checkboxes in most cases. However, smaller checkboxes work well on pages where it’s helpful to make them less visually prominent.
For example, on a page of search results, the main user need is to see the results. Using smaller checkboxes lets users see and change search filters without distracting them from the main content.
<div class="govuk-form-group">
<fieldset class="govuk-fieldset">
<legend class="govuk-fieldset__legend govuk-fieldset__legend--m">
<h1 class="govuk-fieldset__heading">
Organisation
</h1>
</legend>
<div class="govuk-checkboxes govuk-checkboxes--small" data-module="govuk-checkboxes">
<div class="govuk-checkboxes__item">
<input class="govuk-checkboxes__input" id="organisation" name="organisation" type="checkbox" value="hmrc">
<label class="govuk-label govuk-checkboxes__label" for="organisation">
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)
</label>
</div>
<div class="govuk-checkboxes__item">
<input class="govuk-checkboxes__input" id="organisation-2" name="organisation" type="checkbox" value="employment-tribunal">
<label class="govuk-label govuk-checkboxes__label" for="organisation-2">
Employment Tribunal
</label>
</div>
<div class="govuk-checkboxes__item">
<input class="govuk-checkboxes__input" id="organisation-3" name="organisation" type="checkbox" value="MOD">
<label class="govuk-label govuk-checkboxes__label" for="organisation-3">
Ministry of Defence
</label>
</div>
<div class="govuk-checkboxes__item">
<input class="govuk-checkboxes__input" id="organisation-4" name="organisation" type="checkbox" value="DfT">
<label class="govuk-label govuk-checkboxes__label" for="organisation-4">
Department for Transport
</label>
</div>
</div>
</fieldset>
</div>This uses a Ruby gem maintained by the community. Options for this helper.
<%
# organisations would normally be defined in code elsewhere,
# as either an activerecord collection or an array of structs:
organisations = [
OpenStruct.new(id: "hmrc", name: "HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)"),
OpenStruct.new(id: "employment-tribunal", name: "Employment Tribunal"),
OpenStruct.new(id: "MOD", name: "Ministry of Defence"),
OpenStruct.new(id: "DfT", name: "Department for Transport")
]
%>
<%= f.govuk_check_boxes_fieldset :organisation_id,
organisations,
:id,
:name,
small: true,
legend: {
text: "Organisation",
tag: "h1",
size: "m"
}
%>{% from "govuk/components/checkboxes/macro.njk" import govukCheckboxes %}
{{ govukCheckboxes({
name: "organisation",
classes: "govuk-checkboxes--small",
fieldset: {
legend: {
text: "Organisation",
isPageHeading: true,
classes: "govuk-fieldset__legend--m"
}
},
items: [
{
value: "hmrc",
text: "HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)"
},
{
value: "employment-tribunal",
text: "Employment Tribunal"
},
{
value: "MOD",
text: "Ministry of Defence"
},
{
value: "DfT",
text: "Department for Transport"
}
]
}) }}Small checkboxes can work well on information dense screens in services designed for repeat use, like caseworking systems.
In services like these, the risk that they will not be noticed is lower because users return to the screen multiple times.
Error messages
Error messages should be styled like this:
<div class="govuk-form-group govuk-form-group--error">
<fieldset class="govuk-fieldset" aria-describedby="nationality-hint nationality-error">
<legend class="govuk-fieldset__legend govuk-fieldset__legend--l">
<h1 class="govuk-fieldset__heading">
What is your nationality?
</h1>
</legend>
<div id="nationality-hint" class="govuk-hint">
If you have dual nationality, select all options that are relevant to you
</div>
<p id="nationality-error" class="govuk-error-message">
<span class="govuk-visually-hidden">Error:</span> Select if you are British, Irish or a citizen of a different country
</p>
<div class="govuk-checkboxes" data-module="govuk-checkboxes">
<div class="govuk-checkboxes__item">
<input class="govuk-checkboxes__input" id="nationality" name="nationality" type="checkbox" value="british" aria-describedby="nationality-item-hint">
<label class="govuk-label govuk-checkboxes__label" for="nationality">
British
</label>
<div id="nationality-item-hint" class="govuk-hint govuk-checkboxes__hint">
including English, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish
</div>
</div>
<div class="govuk-checkboxes__item">
<input class="govuk-checkboxes__input" id="nationality-2" name="nationality" type="checkbox" value="irish">
<label class="govuk-label govuk-checkboxes__label" for="nationality-2">
Irish
</label>
</div>
<div class="govuk-checkboxes__item">
<input class="govuk-checkboxes__input" id="nationality-3" name="nationality" type="checkbox" value="other">
<label class="govuk-label govuk-checkboxes__label" for="nationality-3">
Citizen of another country
</label>
</div>
</div>
</fieldset>
</div>This uses a Ruby gem maintained by the community. Options for this helper.
<%
# nationalities would normally be defined in code elsewhere,
# as either an activerecord collection or an array of structs:
nationalities = [
OpenStruct.new(id: "British", name: "British", hint: "including English, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish"),
OpenStruct.new(id: "irish", name: "Irish"),
OpenStruct.new(id: "other", name: "Citizen of another country")
]
# In the associated model, add:
#
# validates :nationality,
# presence: { message: "Select if you are British, Irish or a citizen of a different country" }
%>
<%= f.govuk_collection_check_boxes :nationality, nationalities,
:id,
:name,
:hint,
legend: {
text: "What is your nationality?",
tag: "h1",
size: "l"
},
hint: {
text: "If you have dual nationality, select all options that are relevant to you."
} %>{% from "govuk/components/checkboxes/macro.njk" import govukCheckboxes %}
{{ govukCheckboxes({
name: "nationality",
fieldset: {
legend: {
text: "What is your nationality?",
isPageHeading: true,
classes: "govuk-fieldset__legend--l"
}
},
hint: {
text: "If you have dual nationality, select all options that are relevant to you"
},
errorMessage: {
text: "Select if you are British, Irish or a citizen of a different country"
},
items: [
{
value: "british",
text: "British",
hint: {
text: "including English, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish"
}
},
{
value: "irish",
text: "Irish"
},
{
value: "other",
text: "Citizen of another country"
}
]
}) }}Make sure errors follow the guidance in the Error message component and have specific error messages for specific error states.
If nothing is selected and the question has options in it
Say ‘Select if [whatever it is]’.
For example, ‘Select if you are British, Irish or a citizen of a different country’.
If nothing is selected and the question does not have options in it
Say ‘Select [whatever it is]’.
For example, ‘Select your nationality or nationalities’.
If users check both a ‘none’ checkbox and another checkbox
Say:
For example:
Research on this component
If you’ve done any user research involving conditionally revealed questions, particularly with users of assistive technologies, tell us what you’ve learned by adding a comment to the discussion about this component.
Read a blog post about an update to the radios and checkboxes components in 2016.
Help improve this component
To help make sure that this page is useful, relevant and up to date, you can:
- take part in the ‘Checkboxes’ discussion on GitHub and share your research
- propose a change on GitHub – read more about how to propose changes in GitHub
Need help?
If you’ve got a question about the GOV.UK Design System, contact the team.