Intro

A checkbox lets the user set a binary value (such as “true/false”). When the user clicks the checkbox, it toggles between checked and unchecked. Checked means that the state described by the checkbox text applies, or that the item has been chosen.

The checkbox text describes the positive action (as in “true” or “yes”). The text can be either a label control to the left of the checkbox, or a checkbox text that appears to the right of the box.

Within a group of checkboxes, each checkbox can be checked or unchecked. The user can check multiple options.

A checkbox does not apply a setting right away; the changes take effect after user confirmation via a triggering action button (such as Save).

Checkbox enabled/disabled/tri-state

When to Use

Use the checkbox if:

Only one option can be selected or deselected, for example to accept terms of use. Use it only if the meaning is obvious (single checkbox).
You have a group or a list of options that can be selected independently of each other (checkbox group).
Your use case requires all available options to be displayed right away without any user interaction (also in read-only cases).
The values of the option list are primary information and need to be displayed right away.
Changes to the settings need to be confirmed and reviewed by the user before they are submitted. This helps prevent users from changing settings accidentally.
You want to group multiple suboptions under a parent option, and require an intermediate selection state (tri-state). The tri-state indicates that some (but not all) suboptions are selected.

Don't

Don’t use the checkbox if:

The user needs to choose multiple options from a large list. Use a multi-combo box instead.
The user can choose only one option from a list. For a small list, use a radio button group instead. For a large list, use the select control or a list with multi-selection functionality.
You want to offer two options for a “yes/no” or “on/off” type of decision. Consider using a switch control instead.
The user needs to perform instantaneous actions that do not need reviewing or confirming. Consider using the switch control instead.
There is not enough space available on the screen. Use the combo box control instead.

Use for a list of options that can be selected independently of each other.

Don't use when the user can choose only one option from a list.

If there is only one checkbox, you can use a label or text depending on the form format.
If there is more than one checkbox, the label describes the whole group of checkboxes. In this case, use the text property of the checkbox to describe the individual checkboxes.

Anatomy

The checkbox component has two parts:

Box: Represents a selectable control with 3 possible states: selected, unselected, or indeterminate.
Text: Describes the purpose of the checkbox. If the purpose of the checkbox is already described by other elements, the checkbox text is optional.

Checkbox anatomy

Behavior and Interaction

Checked/Unchecked

Clicking a checkbox toggles the state of the checkbox between checked and unchecked.

Checkbox click interaction

Tri-State

The main purpose of this state is to represent the mixed selection states of dependent input fields. If some (but not all) of the dependent fields are selected, the checkbox shows a partially selected state. This is only a visual state and can’t be achieved by a direct user interaction.

Checkbox interaction states

Responsiveness

Checkbox Sizes

A checkbox can appear in two different sizes. In cozy mode, it is bigger than it is in compact mode. This makes the checkbox easier to select on touch devices. For more information on cozy and compact modes, see the article on content density.

Compact and cozy mode

Active Area

In both sizes, the touch/click area around the checkbox is bigger than the checkbox itself, making the checkbox easier to select. Clicking inside this area toggles the checkbox.

Note: Because the touch/click area does not include the label on the left, clicking the label will not toggle the checkbox.

Checkbox touch/click area with label

Layout

Checkbox Control

The checkbox control consists of a box and a text that describes the purpose of the checkbox. If the checkbox is checked, an indicator is shown inside the box.

Focus is indicated by a solid line that surrounds both the checkbox and the text to the right of it.

If the checkbox appears alone inside a form, the text can be omitted if the label in front of the checkbox takes over its function.

Note: Because the touch/click area does not include the label on the left, clicking the label does not toggle the checkbox.

If there are several options to choose from in a form, the label describes the entire checkbox group, and the texts describe the individual checkboxes.

Checkbox layout

Text Formatting

Since checkbox texts are also a type of label, use title case to be consistent with other labels. If a label is too long, it wraps to fit within the visible area. There is no limit on the number of lines a text can wrap.

Exception: If one or several of the checkbox texts is too long, or is framed as a phrase, use sentence case and appropriate ending punctuation.

Short text in title case; Long text in sentence case; Text wrap

Labels and Text

For forms with labels above the fields, place the label above the checkbox group, or do not use a label. For a single checkbox, use only a checkbox text.

For forms with labels to the left of the field, place the label next to the group, aligned with the first checkbox field, or do not use a label. For a single checkbox, use only a label, or only a checkbox text.

Checkbox label and text variations

hint

Do not use empty labels to arrange the checkboxes. Creating a label in front of each checkbox and leaving the text empty looks fine – nobody sees the label, and the checkboxes are aligned correctly underneath each other. However, the screen reader will notice these labels and read each of them as “label”. Instead, use the layout data property (layoutData) for the checkbox. In this property, force a line break (linebreak) and set the value of the indents in sizes L and M (indentL, indentM) according to the value of the label span in the simple form (labelSpanL, labelSpanM).

States

Interaction States

A checkbox can appear in different interaction states depending on how a user interacts with it.

A. Regular: Default appearance when the checkbox is enabled.

B. Hover: Highlights the checkbox when the cursor moves over it.

C. Disabled: Shows the checkbox is unavailable. Users can’t select or change it.

D. Read Only: Displays a fixed selection that cannot be changed by the user.

E. Display Only: Shows a non-interactive checkbox for visual reference only.

Checkbox interaction states

Value States

In addition to interaction states, checkboxes can be styled to reflect intent or meaning, which are indicated using semantic colors.

A. Information: Provides context or neutral guidance.

B. Positive: Highlights a successful or desirable option.

C. Critical: Draws attention to a potentially risky or sensitive choice.

D. Negative: Signals an irreversible or destructive option, such as file or account deletion or service cancelation.

Checkbox value states

information

For details on the different states, see UI Element States.

For more information on semantic colors for value states, see How to Use Semantic Colors.

Localization

In left-to-right languages like English, the checkbox is typically aligned to the left of the label text. For right-to-left languages like Arabic or Hebrew, the checkbox should be aligned to the right of the label text to maintain consistency with the reading flow.