Digital pattern library

Form elements

Keep forms as simple as possible, see form example for more information.

Rules for form elements

You must only ask for the information you absolutely need.
You must not mark mandatory fields with asterisks.
You must not use forms in sidebars.
You may ask for optional information, if so, you must mark the labels of optional fields with ‘(optional)’.

Options available

Checkboxes inline
Checkboxes stacked
Checkboxes inline (small)
Checkboxes stacked (small)
Date picker
Fieldsets and legends
File upload
Hint text
Input addons
Input fields
Labels
Optional fields
Radio buttons inline
Radio buttons stacked
Radio buttons stacked with conditional
Select box
Select box with conditional
Submit buttons
Textarea
Textarea with input limit counter

Checkboxes inline

Clearly label when users can select one or more options.
Only pre-select options for the user if there’s a strong, user-centred reason to do this.
The label must be clickable.

Example

Options

Please choose one or more options:

One
Two
Three

Code



    
	    Options
	    Please choose one or more options:
        
            
                
                One
                
            
            
                
                Two
                
            
            
                
                Three

Checkboxes stacked

Clearly label when users can select one or more options.
Only pre-select options for the user if there’s a strong, user-centred reason to do this.
The label must be clickable.

Example

Options

Please choose one or more options:

One
Two
Three

Code



    
	    Options
	    Please choose one or more options:
        
            
                
                One
                
            
            
                
                Two
                
            
            
                
                Three

Checkboxes inline (small)

Smaller checkboxes can be used when these elements need to be less visually prominent.

Example

Options

Please choose one or more options:

One
Two
Three

Code



    
	    Options
	    Please choose one or more options:
        
            
                
                One
                
            
            
                
                Two
                
            
            
                
                Three

Checkboxes stacked (small)

Smaller checkboxes can be used when these elements need to be less visually prominent.

Example

Options

Please choose one or more options:

One
Two
Three

Code



    
	    Options
	    Please choose one or more options:
        
            
                
                One
                
            
            
                
                Two
                
            
            
                
                Three

Date picker

Use date picker for inputting date elements.

Example

Pick a date

Code

	
		
			
				
					Pick a date

Fieldsets and legends

Use fieldsets to group related form controls. The first element inside a fieldset must be a legend element that describes the group.

Example

Personal details

First name

Last name

Postcode Enter your postcode without any spaces. For example, KY169AL.

Code



Personal details
	
		
			
				
					First name
					
					
					
					
					
					
				
			
		
	
	
		
			
				
					Last name
					
					
					
					
					
					
				
			
		
	
	
		
			
				
					Postcode
					Enter your postcode without any spaces. For example, KY169AL.

File upload

This element uses the native input: type='file'. This is so the element gains focus when tabbing through the page. It also ensures the element functions when:

using the keyboard
using assistive technology
JavaScript is not available.

Example

Upload a file

Code

	
		
			
				
					Upload a file

Hint text

You must not use placeholder text in form fields, as this will disappear once content is entered into the form field. Search fields are the only exception to this rule, but they must have a search icon or text indicating its usage.
Hint text must sit above a form field.
You must ensure hint text can be read correctly by screen readers.

Example

Postcode Enter your postcode without any spaces. For example, KY16 9AL.

Code

	
		
			
				
					Postcode
					Enter your postcode without any spaces. For example, KY16 9AL.

Input addons

Addons may be used when the input field is always going to be prefixed with a particular value, for example collecting only the username for an @st-andrews.ac.uk email address.

Example

Price

.00

Email address

@st-andrews.ac.uk

Code

	
		
			
				
					Price
					
					
					£
					
					.00
					
				
			
		
	
	
		
			
				
					Email address
					
					
					
					
					@st-andrews.ac.uk

Input fields

You must use the .form-group class to create spacing when wrapping label and input pairs.

Example

First name

Last name

Code

Labels

All form fields must be given labels.
You must not hide labels unless the surrounding context makes them unnecessary.
Labels must be aligned above input fields.
Labels must be positioned to the right of checkboxes and radio buttons.
Label text must be short, direct and in sentence case.
You must not use colons at the end of labels.
Labels must be associated with form fields using the for attribute.

Example

Name

Code

Optional fields

If you do ask for optional information, you must mark the labels of optional fields with (optional).

Example

Postcode (optional)

Code

	
		
			
				
					Postcode (optional)

Radio buttons inline

These let users choose a single option from a list.

You must use a select-box if you have more than 10 radio buttons.
Radio buttons with large hit areas are easier to select with a mouse or touch devices.
You must only pre-select options for the user if there’s a strong, user-centred reason to do this.
The label must be clickable.

Example

Options

How many fudge doughnuts would you like?

One
Two
Three

Code



    
	    Options
	    How many fudge doughnuts would you like?
        
            
                
                One
                
            
            
                
                Two
                
            
            
                
                Three

Radio buttons stacked

These let users choose a single option from a list.

You must use a select-box if you have more than 10 radio buttons.
Radio buttons with large hit areas are easier to select with a mouse or touch devices.
You must only pre-select options for the user if there’s a strong, user-centred reason to do this.
The label must be clickable.

Example

Options

How many fudge doughnuts would you like?

One
Two
Three

Code



    
	    Options
	    How many fudge doughnuts would you like?
        
            
                
                One
                
            
            
                
                Two
                
            
            
                
                Three

Radio buttons stacked with conditional

You may reveal an additional input field, depending on the radio button selected.

Example

Options

How many fudge doughnuts would you like?

One
Two
Three
Other

Code



    
	    Options
	    How many fudge doughnuts would you like?
        
            
                
                One
                
            
            
                
                Two
                
            
            
                
                Three
                
            
            
                
                Other
                
            
        
    
	
		Other

Select box

You should avoid using select boxes (drop-down lists), instead you should use radio buttons or checkboxes.
You must only pre-select options for the user if there’s a strong, user-centred reason to do this.

Example

Student status

Please select your student status.

Code



    
        
            Student status
            Please select your student status.

Select box with conditional

You may reveal an additional input field, depending on the option selected.

Example

Student status

Please select your student status.

Code



    
        
            Student status
            Please select your student status.
            
			
				Other

Submit buttons

You must keep text short and use a verb such as 'submit' or 'continue'.
You must not add a reset button. See the Neilsen Norman Group article on reset and cancel buttons for more information.

Example

Code

Textarea

Allows for multiple lines of text.

Example

Put additional instructions here

Code

	
		
			
				
					Put additional instructions here

Textarea with input limit counter

Allows for multiple lines of text with a character limit counter.
There may be multiple textareas with limit counters of varying lengths on one page.
Warns the user when the character limit is exceeded.
The textarea must have the class limit-counter.
The textarea must have the data-attribute data-length='[limit]', this sets the character limit.
There must be an adjacent element <div class='textarea_feedback'></div>.

Example

Put additional instructions here

Code

	
		
			
				
					Put additional instructions here