What's the "for" for in a label tag?
HtmlFormsUsabilityHtml Problem Overview
Just ran across a for
parameter in an HTML label tag:
<label for="required-firstname"> First Name </label>
<small>*</small>
<input name="required-firstname" type="text" tabindex="2"
id="required-firstname" size="24" maxlength="40">
I'm converting this form to a PHP processed script, can I get rid of the for= parameters? (And out of curiosity, what does it do?)
Html Solutions
Solution 1 - Html
From w3schools.org:
> The
HTH!
adding my $.02 as an Accessibility SME - as well as usability, the LABEL also associates the input field with the correct label so persons using screen readers will know what the field is for.
Solution 2 - Html
The HTML label tag defines a label for a form element. They're usually used with checkboxes and radio buttons, and when the user clicks on the label it toggles the button. With a text input (and you'll have to check this to be sure) I think it only gives focus to the input when the user clicks the label.
Solution 3 - Html
It specifies to which element that label is bound to. In your sample code the label is there for the required-firstname input field. If the user clicks on that label, the focus will go to the bound input field. It's a usability improvement and I think you'd be better off leaving it as is. It's a good practice.
Solution 4 - Html
The "for" attribute is a necessary element for the accessibility of your form. Do not omit it. For someone using a screen reader (SR) to have a web page announced to them, the "for" attribute relates the control to the label. Typically a SR user will tab through a form, from one control (which is a focusable element for the SR) to the next. Without the "for" attribute, the SR user will have to change modes on the SR and probe around the form to try and determine which control matches which label, which can be time-consuming and confusing. The "for" attribute can also be useful for assistive technology relating to motor issues.
WebAIM.org has a great page explaining the accessibility ramifications of "for": http://webaim.org/techniques/forms/controls
Solution 5 - Html
It ties the label to a form element id. Some form elements, like checkboxes, can be activated by clicking on their label.
Solution 6 - Html
In some browsers when you click on a text in a for tag, you'll check the box it's associated with (i.e. the for = id) or put the focus on that box. It's an ADA thing