Checkbox
Checkboxes allow users to select multiple items from a list of individual items, or to mark one individual item as selected.

Anatomy#

Options#
Table of options#
From the design point of view, each component has a number of options. These options and their names are platform agnostic, and each implementation should adapt these to fit into their framework.
Behaviors#

Keyboard focus#
A checkbox can be navigated using a keyboard. The keyboard focus state takes the checkbox’s visual hover state and adds a blue ring to the checkbox in focus.

Text overflow#
When the label is too long for the horizontal space available, it wraps to form another line.

Windows high contrast mode#
In Windows high contrast mode, checkboxes should be displayed using the high contrast theme-specified colors for buttons. By default, borders should be the same as the button text color and labels should use default text color. In hover and keyboard focus states, a border should display as the button border color. Selected checkbox fills should be the same as button border color. In the disabled state, border, and text color should display as the disabled color.
Usage guidelines#
Emphasized or not?#
Emphasized checkboxes are optimal for forms, settings, etc. where the checkboxes need to be noticed, or to bring attention to selected items such as cards or table rows. Not emphasized checkboxes are optimal for application panels where all the visual components are monochrome in order to direct focus to the canvas.


When to use a standalone checkbox#
Standalone checkboxes should be used in situations where the context is clear without an associated text label. An example of this would be when a checkbox is connected to other controls inside of a panel.


Checkbox or radio button?#
Checkboxes and radio buttons are not interchangeable. A set of checkboxes should be used to select as many options as desired (or none). A set of radio buttons should be used to select only a single option from a list of mutually exclusive options.




Checkbox or switch?#
Checkboxes are best used for communicating selection (e.g., multiple table rows) while switches are best used for communicating activation (e.g., on/off states). Checkboxes, unlike switches, can have an error state.




Label groups of related checkboxes#
Sets of checkboxes should always have a clear label that describes what the list of options represents and guides users what to do. This is important for accessibility, since a screen reader will read the label before each option.




Representing mixed values#
When a checkbox represents multiple values that are not identical, the checkbox should appear in the indeterminate state. Any subsequent click or tap should select the checkbox, and update all values to be selected. Another click or tap after that should deselect the checkbox, and update all values to be not selected.




Internationalization#
Keyboard interactions#
Changelog#
- Updated read-only option design
- Updated disabled text color (from gray-500 to gray-400)
- Updated all colors to 6.0.0
- Updated label color for error state
- Added size option
- Updated keyboard focus state to be more accessible
- Added read-only option
- Added text overflow behavior
- Replaced “standard/quiet” variants with emphasis (“emphasized/not emphasized”)
- This component is now individually versioned (individual versions of existing components start at 5.0.0)
- Added RTL (right-to-left) guidelines
Design checklist#

All interactive states
Includes all interactive states that are applicable (hover, down, focus, keyboard focus, disabled).

All color themes
Works properly across all four color themes (lightest, light, dark, darkest).

All platform scales
Includes a desktop scale (UWP, macOS, web desktop) and a mobile scale (iOS, Android, web mobile).

Accessible use of color
Color is not used as the only visual means of conveying information (WCAG 2.0 1.4.1).

Accessible contrast for text
Text has a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for small text and at least 3:1 for large text (WCAG 2.0 1.4.3).

Accessible contrast for UI components
Visual information required to identify components and states (except inactive components) has a contrast ratio of at least 3:1 (WCAG 2.1 1.4.11).

Content design
UI language and information design considerations have been incorporated into component design.

Defined options
Includes relevant options (variant, style, size, orientation, optional iconography, decorations, selection, error state, etc.)

Defined behaviors
Includes guidelines for keyboard focus, layout (wrapping, truncation, overflow), animation, interactions, etc.

Usage guidelines
Includes a list of dos and don'ts that highlight best practices and common mistakes.

Writing guidelines
Includes content standards or usage guidelines for how to write or format in-product content for the component.

Internationalization guidelines
Works properly across various locales and includes guidelines for bi-directionality (RTL).

Keyboard interactions
Follows WCAG 2.0 standards for keyboard accessibility guidelines and includes a description of the keyboard interactions.

Design tokens
All design attributes (color, typography, layout, animation, etc.) are available as design tokens.
UI kit
Includes a downloadable XD file that shows multiple options, states, color themes, and platform scales.

Generated UI kit
Includes a downloadable XD file, generated by code using design tokens defined in Spectrum DNA, and shows multiple options, states, color themes, and platform scales.

In Spectrum for Adobe XD plugin
Component is included in the Spectrum for Adobe XD plugin.