Chapter 22: Label Element

Attributes	Description
for	Reference to the target ID Element. I.e: for=”surname”
form	HTML5, [Obsolete] Reference to the form containing the Target Element. Label elements are expected within a <form> Element. If the form=”someFormId” is provided this allows you to place the Label anywhere in the document.

About Label

The <label> element is used to reference a form action element. In the scope of User Interface it’s used to ease the target / selection of elements like Type radio or checkbox.

<label> as wrapper

It can enclose the desired action element

<label>
 <input type="checkbox" name="Cats">
 I like Cats!
</label>

(Clicking on the text the target input will toggle it’s state / value)

<label>as reference

Using the for attribute you don’t have to place the control element as descendant of label – but the for value must
match it’s ID

<input id="cats" type="checkbox" name="Cats">
<label for="cats" >I like Cats!</label>

Note

Don’t use more than one Control Element within a <label> element

Basic Use

Simple form with labels…

<form action="/login" method="POST">
 
 <label for="username">Username:</label>
 <input id="username" type="text" name="username" />
 <label for="pass">Password:</label>
 <input id="pass" type="password" name="pass" />
 <input type="submit" name="submit" />
</form>
Version ≥ 5
<form id="my-form" action="/login" method="POST">
 
 <input id="username" type="text" name="username" />GoalKicker.com – HTML5 Notes for Professionals 66
 <label for="pass">Password:</label>
 <input id="pass" type="password" name="pass" />
 <input type="submit" name="submit" />
</form>
<label for="username" form="my-form">Username:</label>