3.3.2 Labels or Instructions (Level A)

Check ID 167: Required fields

What

Input fields must have text labels. You must clearly mark all required form fields. Do not use only color to mark these fields.

The system selects all documents with form fields for an assisted check. 

Documents with required fields

The system flags documents with required fields for an assisted check. 

• Manually confirm that each flagged item is labeled as required for your users.

• Make sure that a required fields label is applied on every required field. 

• Make sure that the label does not rely on color alone. 

Documents with no required fields

 The system flags documents with no required fields for an assisted check. 

• Make sure that the form lets users know that no fields are required.

• Make sure that the form does not require any fields to be completed before the user can submit it.

Why

3.3.2 Labels or Instructions (Level A)

Check ID 167: Required fields

What

Input fields must have text labels. You must clearly mark all required form fields. Do not use only color to mark these fields.

The system selects all documents with form fields for an assisted check. 

Documents with required fields

The system flags documents with required fields for an assisted check. 

• Manually confirm that each flagged item is labeled as required for your users.

• Make sure that a required fields label is applied on every required field. 

• Make sure that the label does not rely on color alone. 

Documents with no required fields

 The system flags documents with no required fields for an assisted check. 

• Make sure that the form lets users know that no fields are required.

• Make sure that the form does not require any fields to be completed before the user can submit it.

Why

If labels do not contain text, they cannot properly describe their related input fields. This means users may have difficulty filling out the input fields correctly.

People need to know what is expected of them before they submit a form. A person using a screen reader, the technology blind people typically use to have a document read aloud and to understand its structure, cannot see an asterisk or a red label. If a required field is not identified in the field itself, they find out only when the form is rejected.

Who

Affected users

This check affects these users:

• Visual impairments: Who access the site content with a screen reader or screen magnification software.

• Cognitive impairments: Who benefit from clear instructions.

• People who use assisted technology such as screen readers: Screen readers cannot see an asterisk or a red label. If a required field is not identified in the field itself, they find out only when the form is rejected.

How

How to fix it

The Web Governance platform highlights <label> elements that do not contain text. To resolve the issue, add descriptive text to the <label> element so that it properly corresponds to the related input field.

Additional resources

WCAG success criteria

3.3.2 Labels or Instructions