Components

Checkbox accessibility tests

Any USWDS checkbox component should pass these manual accessibility tests.

Passed WCAG 2.1 AA

Checkbox accessibility status

The USWDS team did 8 tests based on WCAG 2.1 AA success criteria.

Overview of recent accessibility test results:

Total tests	Passed	Passed with exceptions	Conditional	Failed
8	7	0	1	0

Overview of recent accessibility test results:

• Passed: 7
• Passed with exceptions: 0
• Conditional: 1
• Failed: 0

Test the checkbox in your project

USWDS tests components in isolation. You need to test the checkbox component in the context of your own site to ensure compliance with Section 508 accessibility standards.

Use the checklist below.

Follow the "how to test" instructions for each type of assistive technology.

Anyone can test for accessibility.

These quick manual tests don't require special equipment.

Checkbox accessibility checklist

• General tests
• Keyboard navigation tests
• Screen reader tests

General tests

Select passing tests

Visible instructions explain checkbox requirements. The checkbox has a visible label above it to indicate its purpose. For example, “Select your state.”

• WCAG A
• 3.3.2 Labels or instructions
• USWDS test status: Passed
• Last test: v3.8.0

• USWDS test status:
  Passed
• Last test: v3.8.0

Checkbox labels are descriptive, brief and clear. When you view or interact with the checkbox component on your page, all labels have short descriptions that are easy to understand and act on.

• WCAG AA
• 2.4.6 Headings and labels
• USWDS test status: Passed
• Last test: v3.8.0

• USWDS test status:
  Passed
• Last test: v3.8.0

Keyboard navigation tests

USWDS performed these tests to check checkbox accessibility and usability for keyboard navigation. For help performing your own keyboard navigation tests, check out the resources in the expandable section below.

1. Navigate to a page on your website where the checkbox component is used.
2. Using only your keyboard, press tab to navigate forward or shift + tab to navigate backwards until focus is on the checkbox.
3. Use the testing checklist to make sure all functionality works with keyboard navigation.

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For instruction for using keyboard navigation, use this resource from WebAIM.

Select passing tests

Focus indicator on checkbox is clearly visible. When you use a keyboard to focus on a checkbox group, you will see a visible outline or other clear indication of focus.

• WCAG AA
• 2.4.7 Focus visible
• USWDS test status: Passed
• Last test: v3.8.0

• USWDS test status:
  Passed
• Last test: v3.8.0

Checkbox focus follows logical content order. When you tab through the checkbox with a keyboard, the focus stays in order of the content as intended.

• WCAG A
• 2.4.3 Focus order
• USWDS test status: Passed
• Last test: v3.8.0

• USWDS test status:
  Passed
• Last test: v3.8.0

Users can access and select checkbox items using only a keyboard. When you use a keyboard to navigate to the checkbox, you are able to move focus using tab and can select options with spacebar.

• WCAG A
• 2.1.1 Keyboard
• USWDS test status: Passed
• Last test: v3.8.0

• USWDS test status:
  Passed
• Last test: v3.8.0

Screen reader tests

USWDS performed these tests to check checkbox accessibility and usability for screen readers. For help performing your own screen reader tests, check out the resources in the expandable section below.

1. Navigate to a page on your website where the checkbox component is used.
2. Open a dedicated screen reading app or your operating system screen reader.
3. Test with both a keyboard and a mouse to complete the tests in the checklist.

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Instructions for setting up the screen reader on your operating system:

1. VoiceOver for Mac: Getting started guide
2. Narrator for Windows: Complete guide to Narrator

Select passing tests

Screen reader announces the checkbox group label and then announces each checkbox. When listening to the checkbox button using a screen reader, you hear the question related to the checkbox read first. Then you will hear the checkbox group and labels within the checkbox and their checked state.

• WCAG A
• 4.1.2 Name, role, value
• USWDS test status: Passed
• Last test: v3.8.0

• USWDS test status:
  Passed
• Last test: v3.8.0

Screen reader values for checkbox buttons match screen display. When using a screen reader, you can hear the same value for the checkbox button that is shown on the screen.

• WCAG A
• 2.5.3 Label in name
• USWDS test status: Passed
• Last test: v3.8.0

• USWDS test status:
  Passed
• Last test: v3.8.0

Screen reader announces all labels. When you use a screen reader and navigate to a checkbox you hear every label or title associated with that check box.

This can only be tested in your implementation of the component. Be sure to test this in your project.

• WCAG A
• 1.3.1 Info and relationships
• USWDS test status: Conditional
• Last test: v3.8.0

• USWDS test status:
  Conditional
• Last test: v3.8.0

Share your feedback

• Propose a new test
• Report an error

Latest updates

Meaningful code and guidance updates are listed in the following table:

Date	USWDS version	Affects	Breaking	Description
2024-09-18	N/A	Guidance	No	Added accessibility tests page. More information: uswds-site#2803