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A form element that allows users to select a single item from group of items.

An input of type "radio" is a form element that allows users to select a single item from a list of related options.

Usage

When to use

  • To allow users to select a single option from a group of two or more mutually exclusive options.

When not to use

  • When users should check and uncheck an option, consider Checkbox.
  • When users need to select more than one option from a list, consider Checkbox.
  • When checking or unchecking results in an immediate change, consider Toggle.

Layout

We recommend using vertical Radio groups, especially with short option lists.

Vertical group
Horizontal group

Required and optional

Generally, we recommend pre-selecting one of the radio buttons by default. However, there could be cases where the default selection could affect the user’s choice (the power of suggestion), and leaving all radio buttons unselected may provide a better user experience. Use required and optional indicators in those instances.

For complex forms, indicate required fields. This is the most explicit and transparent method and ensures users don’t have to make assumptions. Read more about best practices for marking required fields in forms.

Group label  

For shorter, simpler forms (e.g., login/signup and feedback requests), indicate optional fields instead.

Group label (Optional)

Error validation

For error validation recommendations, refer to the Form patterns documentation.

Content

For general content recommendations, refer to the Primitives documentation.

How to use this component

Examples have been simplified

We omit the name and ID attributes in the examples since processing of the data is the responsibility of the product teams.

There are three ways to use the Radio component:

  • Form::Radio::Base - the base component: the <input> control
  • Form::Radio::Field - the field component: the <input> control, with label, helper text, and error messaging (in a wrapping container)
  • Form::Radio::Group - the group component: a <legend> (optional), a list of fields, and error messaging

Form::Radio::Group

The basic invocation creates:

  • a <fieldset> container.
  • a <legend> element.
  • a list of rendered <Form::Radio::Field> components.

The @name argument offers an easy way to provide the same name for all the Radio controls in a single place.

Choose datacenter
<Hds::Form::Radio::Group @name="datacenter" as |G|>
  <G.Legend>Choose datacenter</G.Legend>
  <G.RadioField as |F|>
    <F.Label>NYC1</F.Label>
  </G.RadioField>
  <G.RadioField as |F|>
    <F.Label>DC1</F.Label>
  </G.RadioField>
  <G.RadioField as |F|>
    <F.Label>NYC2</F.Label>
  </G.RadioField>
  <G.RadioField as |F|>
    <F.Label>SF1</F.Label>
  </G.RadioField>
</Hds::Form::Radio::Group>

Layout

To better fit your spacing requirements, choose between two different layout orientations: vertical or horizontal.

Choose datacenter
<Hds::Form::Radio::Group @name="datacenter-demo2" as |G|>
  <G.Legend>Choose datacenter</G.Legend>
  <G.RadioField as |F|>
    <F.Label>NYC1</F.Label>
  </G.RadioField>
  <G.RadioField as |F|>
    <F.Label>DC1</F.Label>
  </G.RadioField>
  <G.RadioField as |F|>
    <F.Label>NYC2</F.Label>
  </G.RadioField>
  <G.RadioField as |F|>
    <F.Label>SF1</F.Label>
  </G.RadioField>
</Hds::Form::Radio::Group>
Choose datacenter
<Hds::Form::Radio::Group @layout="horizontal" @name="datacenter-demo2" as |G|>
  <G.Legend>Choose datacenter</G.Legend>
  <G.RadioField as |F|>
    <F.Label>NYC1</F.Label>
  </G.RadioField>
  <G.RadioField as |F|>
    <F.Label>DC1</F.Label>
  </G.RadioField>
  <G.RadioField as |F|>
    <F.Label>NYC2</F.Label>
  </G.RadioField>
  <G.RadioField as |F|>
    <F.Label>SF1</F.Label>
  </G.RadioField>
</Hds::Form::Radio::Group>

Extra content in legend and helper text

If a link is used within a label, helper text, or error text, it will not be presented as a link to the user with a screen reader; only the text content is read out. As such, care should be used when considering this feature. If needing to use a link, include a screen reader-only message that informs the user that some help text includes links, and additional keyboard exploration may be required.

The Legend and HelperText contextual components used in the Group yield their content. This means you can also pass structured content.

When helper text is added, the component automatically adds an aria-describedby attribute to the fieldset, associating it with the automatically generated ID.

Method
Beta
Choose which HTTP method to use for the communication channel. See HTTP protocol for more details.
<Hds::Form::Radio::Group @layout="horizontal" @name="method-demo1" as |G|>
  <G.Legend>Method <Hds::Badge @size="small" @text="Beta" @color="highlight" /></G.Legend>
  <G.HelperText>Choose which HTTP method to use for the communication channel. See <Hds::Link::Inline @href="#">HTTP protocol</Hds::Link::Inline> for more details.</G.HelperText>
  <G.RadioField as |F|>
    <F.Label>POST</F.Label>
  </G.RadioField>
  <G.RadioField as |F|>
    <F.Label>GET</F.Label>
  </G.RadioField>
  <G.RadioField as |F|>
    <F.Label>PUT</F.Label>
  </G.RadioField>
</Hds::Form::Radio::Group>

Required vs. optional

Use the @isRequired and @isOptional arguments to add a visual indication that the field is “required” or “optional”.

Method  
Choose which HTTP method to use for the communication channel.

Method (Optional)
Choose which HTTP method to use for the communication channel.
<Hds::Form::Radio::Group @isRequired={{true}} @layout="horizontal" @name="method-demo2" as |G|>
  <G.Legend>Method</G.Legend>
  <G.HelperText>Choose which HTTP method to use for the communication channel.</G.HelperText>
  <G.RadioField as |F|><F.Label>POST</F.Label></G.RadioField>
  <G.RadioField as |F|><F.Label>GET</F.Label></G.RadioField>
  <G.RadioField as |F|><F.Label>PUT</F.Label></G.RadioField>
</Hds::Form::Radio::Group>
<br />
<Hds::Form::Radio::Group @isOptional={{true}} @layout="horizontal" @name="method-demo3" as |G|>
  <G.Legend>Method</G.Legend>
  <G.HelperText>Choose which HTTP method to use for the communication channel.</G.HelperText>
  <G.RadioField as |F|><F.Label>POST</F.Label></G.RadioField>
  <G.RadioField as |F|><F.Label>GET</F.Label></G.RadioField>
  <G.RadioField as |F|><F.Label>PUT</F.Label></G.RadioField>
</Hds::Form::Radio::Group>

Validation

To indicate a field is invalid, provide an error message using the Error contextual component.

Choose datacenter
Error: you need to choose one datacenter.
<Hds::Form::Radio::Group @layout="horizontal" @name="datacenter-demo4" as |G|>
  <G.Legend>Choose datacenter</G.Legend>
  <G.RadioField as |F|>
    <F.Label>NYC1</F.Label>
  </G.RadioField>
  <G.RadioField as |F|>
    <F.Label>DC1</F.Label>
  </G.RadioField>
  <G.RadioField as |F|>
    <F.Label>NYC2</F.Label>
  </G.RadioField>
  <G.RadioField as |F|>
    <F.Label>SF1</F.Label>
  </G.RadioField>
  <G.Error>Error: you need to choose one datacenter.</G.Error>
</Hds::Form::Radio::Group>

Field items

A group of Radios is made of one or more Form::Radio::Field components. All the arguments, attributes, and modifiers that can be passed to Form::Radio::Field can be passed to the same items in the Group declaration.

Choose datacenter
CoreSite- 32 Avenue of the Americas
CoreSite- K Street
H5 Data Center - 325 Hudson Street
INAP - 650 Townsend Street
<Hds::Form::Radio::Group @layout="vertical" @name="datacenter-demo5" as |G|>
  <G.Legend>Choose datacenter</G.Legend>
  <G.RadioField @id="datacenter-NYC1" checked @value="NYC1" {{on "change" this.yourOnChangeFunction}} as |F|>
    <F.Label>NYC1</F.Label>
    <F.HelperText>CoreSite- 32 Avenue of the Americas</F.HelperText>
  </G.RadioField>
  <G.RadioField @id="datacenter-DC1" @value="DC1" {{on "change" this.yourOnChangeFunction}} as |F|>
    <F.Label>DC1</F.Label>
    <F.HelperText>CoreSite- K Street</F.HelperText>
  </G.RadioField>
  <G.RadioField @id="datacenter-NYC2" @value="NYC2" {{on "change" this.yourOnChangeFunction}} as |F|>
    <F.Label>NYC1</F.Label>
    <F.HelperText>H5 Data Center - 325 Hudson Street</F.HelperText>
  </G.RadioField>
  <G.RadioField @id="datacenter-SF1" @value="SF1" {{on "change" this.yourOnChangeFunction}} as |F|>
    <F.Label>SF1</F.Label>
    <F.HelperText>INAP - 650 Townsend Street</F.HelperText>
  </G.RadioField>
</Hds::Form::Radio::Group>

Form::Radio::Field and Form::Radio::Base

The Base and Field components are intended for rare cases where the Group component can’t be used and a custom implementation is needed. Most of the details for the Field component also apply to the Base component, but see the Component API for more details.

Form::Checkbox::Base does not come with built-in accessibility functionality. It is the responsibility of the product team to ensure the implementation is conformant.

The basic invocation for a Field component creates:

  • a <label> element with a for attribute automatically associated with the input ID attribute.
  • a <input type="radio"> control with an automatically generated ID attribute.
<Hds::Form::Radio::Field name="data-center" @value="SF1" {{on "change" this.yourOnChangeFunction}} as |F|>
  <F.Label>SF1</F.Label>
</Hds::Form::Radio::Field>

The basic invocation for a Base component creates an <input type="radio"> control with an automatically generated ID attribute.

<Hds::Form::Radio::Base
  name="data-center"
  aria-label="San Francisco datacenter number 1"
  @value="SF1"
  {{on "change" this.yourOnChangeFunction}}
/>

Component API

The Radio component has three different variants with their own APIs:

  • Form::Radio::Group - the group component: a <legend> (optional), a list of fields, and error messaging
  • Form::Radio::Field - the field component: the <input> control, with label, helper text, and error messaging (in a wrapping container)
  • Form::Radio::Base - the base component: the <input> control

Since radio controls are always used in a list of options, it’s likely you’ll use Form::Radio::Group by default. Reserve Form::Radio::Base and Form::Radio::Field for custom layouts.

Form::Radio::Group

layout enum
  • vertical (default)
  • horizontal
Sets the layout of the group.
name string
Sets the name attribute for each form control within the group.
isRequired boolean
  • false (default)
Appends a Required indicator next to the legend text and sets the required attribute on the control when user input is required.
isOptional boolean
  • false (default)
Appends an Optional indicator next to the legend text when user input is optional.

Contextual components

Legend, group of Form::Radio::Field components, and Error content are passed to the group as yielded components. The group of elements is automatically wrapped in a <fieldset> element.

<[G].Legend> yielded component
Optional container that yields its content inside the <legend> element. The content can be a simple string or a more complex/structured string, in which case it inherits the text style. For details about its API, check the Form::Legend component.
<[G].HelperText> yielded component
Container that yields its content inside the “helper text” block at group level. The content can be a simple string or a more complex/structured string, in which case it inherits the text style. For details about its API, check the Form::HelperText component.

The id attribute of the element is automatically generated.
<[G].RadioField> yielded component
Used to yield one or more fields inside the group. For details about its API, check the Form::Radio::Field API details.
<[G].Error> yielded component
Container that yields its content inside the “error” block at group level. The content can be a simple string or a more complex/structured string, in which case it inherits the text style. For details about its API, check the Form::Error component.

The id attribute of the Error element is automatically generated.
<[E].Message> yielded component
If the error is made of multiple messages, you can iterate over a collection of error messages yielding individual items using Error.Message.

Form::Radio::Field

id string
Input control’s ID attribute.

By default, the ID is automatically generated by the component. Use this argument to pass a custom ID.
value string
The value attribute of the input control.
extraAriaDescribedBy string
Extra ID attribute to add to the aria-describedby HTML attribute.

By default, the aria-describedby attribute is automatically generated by the component, using the IDs of the helper text and errors (if present). Use this argument to pass an extra ID.
…attributes
This component supports use of ...attributes.

The attributes will be applied to the <input type="radio"> element. This means you can use all the standard HTML attributes of the <input type="radio"> element and all the usual Ember techniques for event handling, validation, etc.

Examples of HTML attributes: name, checked, disabled. See the whole list of HTML attributes. Examples of Ember modifiers: {{on "click" [do something]}}, {{on "change" [do something]}}.

Contextual components

Label, HelperText, and Error content are passed to the field as yielded components.

<[F].Label> yielded component
Container that yields its content inside the <label> element. The content can be a simple string or a more complex/structured string, in which case it inherits the text style. For details about its API, check the Form::Label component.

The for attribute of the label is automatically generated using the controlId value of the control.
<[F].HelperText> yielded component
Container that yields its content inside the “helper text” block. The content can be a simple string or a more complex/structured string, in which case it inherits the text style. For details about its API, check the Form::HelperText component.

The id attribute of the element is automatically generated using the controlId value of the control.
<[F].Error> yielded component
Container that yields its content inside the “error” block. The content can be a simple string or a more complex/structured string, in which case it inherits the text style. For details about its API, check the Form::Error component.

The id attribute of the Error element is automatically generated.
<[E].Message> yielded component
If the error is made of multiple messages, you can iterate over a collection of error messages yielding individual items using Error.Message.

Form::Radio::Base

value string
The value attribute of the input control.
…attributes
This component supports use of ...attributes.

The attributes will be applied to the <input type="radio"> element. This means you can use all the standard HTML attributes of the <input type="radio"> element and all the usual Ember techniques for event handling, validation, etc.

Examples of HTML attributes: id, name, checked, disabled. See the whole list of HTML attributes. Examples of Ember modifiers: {{on "click" [do something]}}, {{on "change" [do something]}}.

Anatomy

Form::Radio::Field

Radio Field anatomy

Element Usage
Base control Required
Label Required
Helper text Optional
Error message Triggered by system

Form::Radio::Group

Radio group anatomy

Element Usage
Legend Optional
Helper text Optional
Fields At least one is required
Error message Triggered by system

States

Radio state example

Conformance rating

Form::Radio::Group

Conformant

Form::Radio::Group is conformant when used as directed.

Form::Radio::Field

Conformant

Form::Radio::Field is conformant when used as directed.

Form::Radio::Base

Conditionally conformant

Form::Radio::Base is not conformant until it has an accessible name.

Applicable WCAG Success Criteria

This section is for reference only, some descriptions have been truncated for brevity.

This component intends to conform to the following WCAG Success Criteria:

  • 1.3.1 Info and Relationships (Level A):
    Information, structure, and relationships conveyed through presentation can be programmatically determined or are available in text.
  • 1.3.2 Meaningful Sequence (Level A):
    When the sequence in which content is presented affects its meaning, a correct reading sequence can be programmatically determined.
  • 1.3.4 Orientation (Level AA):
    Content does not restrict its view and operation to a single display orientation, such as portrait or landscape.
  • 1.3.5 Identify Input Purpose (Level AA):
    The purpose of each input field collecting information about the user can be programmatically determined when the input field serves a purpose identified in the Input Purposes for User Interface Components section; and the content is implemented using technologies with support for identifying the expected meaning for form input data.
  • 1.4.1 Use of Color (Level A):
    Color is not used as the only visual means of conveying information, indicating an action, prompting a response, or distinguishing a visual element.
  • 1.4.10 Reflow (Level AA):
    Content can be presented without loss of information or functionality, and without requiring scrolling in two dimensions.
  • 1.4.11 Non-text Contrast (Level AA):
    The visual presentation of the following have a contrast ratio of at least 3:1 against adjacent color(s): user interface components; graphical objects.
  • 1.4.12 Text Spacing (Level AA):
    No loss of content or functionality occurs by setting all of the following and by changing no other style property: line height set to 1.5; spacing following paragraphs set to at least 2x the font size; letter-spacing set at least 0.12x of the font size, word spacing set to at least 0.16 times the font size.
  • 1.4.3 Minimum Contrast (Level AA):
    The visual presentation of text and images of text has a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1
  • 1.4.4 Resize Text (Level AA):
    Except for captions and images of text, text can be resized without assistive technology up to 200 percent without loss of content or functionality.
  • 2.4.6 Headings and Labels (Level AA):
    Headings and labels describe topic or purpose.
  • 2.4.7 Focus Visible (Level AA):
    Any keyboard operable user interface has a mode of operation where the keyboard focus indicator is visible.
  • 3.2.1 On Focus (Level A):
    When any user interface component receives focus, it does not initiate a change of context.
  • 3.2.2 On Input (Level A):
    Changing the setting of any user interface component does not automatically cause a change of context unless the user has been advised of the behavior before using the component.
  • 3.2.4 Consistent Identification (Level AA):
    Components that have the same functionality within a set of Web pages are identified consistently.
  • 3.3.2 Labels or Instructions (Level A):
    Labels or instructions are provided when content requires user input.
  • 4.1.1 Parsing (Level A):
    In content implemented using markup languages, elements have complete start and end tags, elements are nested according to their specifications, elements do not contain duplicate attributes, and any IDs are unique.
  • 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value (Level A):
    For all user interface components, the name and role can be programmatically determined; states, properties, and values that can be set by the user can be programmatically set; and notification of changes to these items is available to user agents, including assistive technologies.


Support

If any accessibility issues have been found within this component, let us know by submitting an issue.


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