Information
Accessible forms make it easier for everyone to understand and complete them. Learn best practices for form design, labeling, and accessibility to create user-friendly experiences for all.
Forms can be visually and cognitively complex and challenging to use. Accessible forms are easier to use for everyone, including people with disabilities.
- People with cognitive disabilities can better understand the form and how to complete it, as making forms accessible improves the layout structure, instructions, and feedback.
- People using speech input can use the labels via voice commands to activate controls and move the focus to the fields that they must complete.
- People with limited dexterity benefit from large clickable areas that include the labels, especially for smaller controls, such as radio buttons and checkboxes.
- People using screen readers can identify and understand form controls more easily because they are associated with labels, fieldsets, and other structural elements.
Best practices and tutorials
Keep forms simple. Only ask users to enter what is required to complete the transaction or process. Users are more likely to abandon the form if irrelevant, optional, or excessive data is requested.
Forms should not be subject to a time limit to allow users to complete the form at their own pace. If a time limit needs to be in place, for example, for security reasons, the user should have the option to turn it off or extend it.
Understand forms labeling and controls
- Forms Concepts tutorial, W3C WAI
- Creating Accessible Forms, WebAIM
Electronic signatures
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