Forms

Elements Design Guidelines Code Reference Accessibility

Forms

HTML/CSS Available
Web Component Beta
Last Updated
2.17.0

Forms gather information from users via Checkboxes, Inputs, Radio Buttons, Selects and Textareas. Labels sit atop these elements.

Elements Design Guidelines Code Reference Accessibility

Elements

Form Wrappers

Form wrappers always enclose all form elements.

Form Wrapper

HTML

Web Component

<form class="mds-form mds-form--medium-layout">
    <div class="mds-form__field-group">
        <label class="mds-form__label" for="input-01">
            First Name
        </label>
        <input class="mds-form__input" type="text" id="input-01">
    </div>
</form>

<form class="mds-form mds-form--medium-layout">
    <mds-field-group>
        <mds-label for="input-01">First Name</mds-label>
        <mds-input id="input-01"></mds-input>
    </mds-field-group>
</form>

Always use semantic HTML form elements, e.g., <fieldset>, <legend>, <label>, and <input> within form wrappers.

Spacing Elements

By default, form elements do not include any margins. To assist with the composition of many individual form elements in a complete form, MDS provides layout modifier classes which automatically apply margin-based spacing to all elements contained within a form.

Form layout modifier classes are available for all three sizes of form elements, mds-form--small-layout, mds-form--medium-layout, and mds-form--large-layout. Always apply these modifier classes to the block level of a <form> element, for example:

Example Form Spacing

HTML

Web Component

<form class="mds-form mds-form--large-layout">
    <div class="mds-form__field-group">
        <label class="mds-form__label mds-form__label--large" for="first-name">
            First Name
        </label>
        <input class="mds-form__input mds-form__input--large" type="text" id="first-name">
    </div>
    <div class="mds-form__field-group">
        <label class="mds-form__label mds-form__label--large" for="last-name">
            Last Name
        </label>
        <input class="mds-form__input mds-form__input--large" type="text" id="last-name">
    </div>
    <div class="mds-form__field-group">
        <label class="mds-form__label mds-form__label--large" for="email">
            Email
        </label>
        <span class="mds-form__microcopy mds-form__microcopy--large" id="email-microcopy">
            Please use the Email address associated with your use account.
        </span>
        <input class="mds-form__input mds-form__input--large" type="text" id="email" aria-describedby="email-microcopy">
    </div>
</form>

<form class="mds-form mds-form--large-layout">
    <mds-field-group>
        <mds-label for="first-name" size=large>First Name</mds-label>
        <mds-input id="first-name" size=large></mds-input>
    </mds-field-group>
    <mds-field-group>
        <mds-label for="last-name" size=large>Last Name</mds-label>
        <mds-input id="last-name" size=large></mds-input>
    </mds-field-group>
    <mds-field-group>
        <mds-label for="email" size=large>Email</mds-label>
        <mds-microcopy id="email-microcopy" size=large>Please use the Email address associated with your use account.</mds-microcopy>
        <mds-input aria-describedby="email-microcopy" id="email" size=large></mds-input>
    </mds-field-group>
</form>

Layout modifier classes only apply spacing to elements, you must still apply sizing modifier classes or props to each individual element within the form.
Always use form elements of the same size as the layout modifier class used to avoid undesirable spacing.

Field Groups

Field groups always wrap related elements.

Field Group

Label Text Microcopy Text Error Text

Label Text

Field Group

HTML

Web Component

<form class="mds-form mds-form--medium-layout">
    <div class="mds-form__field-group mds-form__field-group--error">
        <label class="mds-form__label" for="input-01">
            Label Text
        </label>
        <span class="mds-form__microcopy" id="input-01-microcopy">
            Microcopy Text
        </span>
        <input class="mds-form__input" type="text" id="input-01" aria-describedby="input-01-microcopy input-01-error">
        <span class="mds-form__field-error" id="input-01-error" role="alert">
            <span class="mds-form__field-error-text">
                Error Text
            </span>
        </span>
    </div>
    <div class="mds-form__field-group mds-form__field-group--horizontal">
        <div class="mds-form__field-group demo-flex-grow-1">
            <label class="mds-form__label" for="input-02">
                Label Text
            </label>
            <input class="mds-form__input" type="text" id="input-02">
        </div>
        <div class="mds-form__field-group demo-flex-grow-1">
            <label class="mds-form__label" for="input-03">
                Label Text
            </label>
            <input class="mds-form__input" type="text" id="input-03">
        </div>
        <div class="mds-form__field-group demo-flex-grow-1">
            <label class="mds-form__label" for="input-04">
                Label Text
            </label>
            <input class="mds-form__input" type="text" id="input-04">
        </div>
    </div>
</form>

<form class="mds-form mds-form--medium-layout">
    <mds-field-group error>
        <mds-label for="input-01">Label Text</mds-label>
        <mds-microcopy id="input-01-microcopy">Microcopy Text</mds-microcopy>
        <mds-input aria-describedby="input-01-microcopy input-01-error" id="input-01"></mds-input>
        <mds-field-error id="input-01-error" visible>Error Text</mds-field-error>
    </mds-field-group>
    <mds-field-group horizontal>
        <mds-field-group class="demo-flex-grow-1">
            <mds-label for="input-02">Label Text</mds-label>
            <mds-input id="input-02"></mds-input>
        </mds-field-group>
        <mds-field-group class="demo-flex-grow-1">
            <mds-label for="input-03">Label Text</mds-label>
            <mds-input id="input-03"></mds-input>
        </mds-field-group>
        <mds-field-group class="demo-flex-grow-1">
            <mds-label for="input-04">Label Text</mds-label>
            <mds-input id="input-04"></mds-input>
        </mds-field-group>
    </mds-field-group>
</form>

If a form field includes Microcopy and/or a Field Error, always place these elements within the field group container wrapping the relevant field.
Multiple pieces of descriptive text, like Microcopy and a Field Error, can be linked to a single element by placing multiple id in an element's aria-describedby attribute. See accessibility guidelines for more information.
To create a horizontal group of form elements, wrap multiple field groups within a parent field group and apply the mds-form__field-group--horizontal modifier class or horizontal prop. This applies margin-right to elements contained within the child field group containers.

Field Sets

Field sets wrap multiple deeply related elements within a form, e.g., fields for entering an address. Always include a descriptive legend using mds-form__legend when using a field set.

Field Set

Address

City

State

Zip Code

Field Set

HTML

Web Component

<form class="mds-form mds-form--medium-layout" method="post" action="form/processor">
    <fieldset class="mds-form__fieldset">
        <legend class="mds-form__legend">Address</legend>
        <div class="mds-form__field-group">
            <label class="mds-form__label" for="full-form-address">
                Address
            </label>
            <input class="mds-form__input" type="text" id="full-form-address">
        </div>
        <div class="mds-form__field-group mds-form__field-group--horizontal">
            <div class="mds-form__field-group demo-flex-grow-1">
                <label class="mds-form__label" for="full-form-city">
                    City
                </label>
                <input class="mds-form__input" type="text" id="full-form-city">
            </div>
            <div class="mds-form__field-group demo-flex-grow-1">
                <label class="mds-form__label" for="full-form-state">
                    State
                </label>
                <div class="mds-form__select demo-width-100">
                    <select class="mds-form__select-input" id="full-form-state">
                        <option class="mds-form__select-option" value="default">Select your state</option>
                        <option class="mds-form__select-option" value="just">Just</option>
                        <option class="mds-form__select-option" value="kidding">Kidding</option>
                    </select>
                    <div class="mds-form__select-visual-wrap"></div>
                    <span class="mds-form__select-open-indicator">
                        <svg class="mds-icon mds-form__select-open-icon" aria-hidden="true">
                            <use xlink:href="/icons/mds.svg#caret-down--s">
                            </use>
                        </svg>
                    </span>
                </div>
            </div>
            <div class="mds-form__field-group demo-flex-grow-1">
                <label class="mds-form__label" for="full-form-zip">
                    Zip Code
                </label>
                <input class="mds-form__input" type="text" id="full-form-zip">
            </div>
        </div>
    </fieldset>
</form>

<form class="mds-form mds-form--medium-layout">
    <fieldset class="mds-form__fieldset">
        <legend class="mds-form__legend">Address</legend>
        <mds-field-group>
            <mds-label for="full-form-address">Address</mds-label>
            <mds-input id="full-form-address">
                <mds-input>
        </mds-field-group>
        <mds-field-group horizontal>
            <mds-field-group class="demo-flex-grow-1">
                <mds-label for="full-form-city">City</mds-label>
                <mds-input id="full-form-city">
                    <mds-input>
            </mds-field-group>
            <mds-field-group class="demo-flex-grow-1">
                <mds-label for="full-form-state">State</mds-label>
                <mds-select class="demo-width-100" id="full-form-state" placeholder="Select your state" options='[{"text": "Just", "value": "just"}, {"text": "Kidding", "value": "kidding"}]'>
                </mds-select>
            </mds-field-group>
            <mds-field-group class="demo-flex-grow-1">
                <mds-label for="full-form-zip">Zip Code</mds-label>
                <mds-input id="full-form-zip">
                    <mds-input>
            </mds-field-group>
        </mds-field-group>
    </fieldset>
</form>

mds-form__fieldset and mds-form__legend are non-visible elements that play a critical role in making forms accessible for those using assistive technologies, like screen readers. See accessibility guidelines for more information.
<fieldset> elements may be nested with another <fieldset>, for example, if using the Radio group or Checkbox group.

Examples

Address Form

This example combines many form elements wrapped with a mds-form--medium-layout modifier class to apply margin-based spacing. It uses a Required Fields Key, Labels (default and required), Inputs, Select, Textarea, and a Button.

Address Form

Address Required fields

First Name *

Last Name *

Address

City

State

Zip

Comments

Address Form

Address

Required fields

First Name

Last Name

Address

City

State

Zip Code

Comments

Submit

HTML

Web Component

<form class="mds-form mds-form--medium-layout" method="post" action="form/processor">
    <fieldset class="mds-form__fieldset">
        <legend class="mds-form__legend">Address</legend>
        <span class="mds-form__required-fields-key">Required fields</span>
        <div class="mds-form__field-group">
            <label class="mds-form__label" for="full-form-first-name">
                First Name
                <abbr class="mds-form__label-required-indicator" title="This field is required." aria-label="This field is required.">*</abbr>
            </label>
            <input class="mds-form__input" type="text" id="full-form-first-name">
        </div>
        <div class="mds-form__field-group">
            <label class="mds-form__label" for="full-form-last-name">
                Last Name
                <abbr class="mds-form__label-required-indicator" title="This field is required." aria-label="This field is required.">*</abbr>
            </label>
            <input class="mds-form__input" type="text" id="full-form-last-name">
        </div>
        <div class="mds-form__field-group">
            <label class="mds-form__label" for="full-form-address">
                Address
            </label>
            <input class="mds-form__input" type="text" id="full-form-adress">
        </div>
        <div class="mds-form__field-group mds-form__field-group--horizontal">
            <div class="mds-form__field-group demo-flex-grow-1">
                <label class="mds-form__label" for="full-form-city">
                    City
                </label>
                <input class="mds-form__input" type="text" id="full-form-city">
            </div>
            <div class="mds-form__field-group demo-flex-grow-1">
                <label class="mds-form__label" for="full-form-state">
                    State
                </label>
                <div class="mds-form__select demo-width-100">
                    <select class="mds-form__select-input" id="full-form-state">
                        <option class="mds-form__select-option" value="default">Select your state</option>
                        <option class="mds-form__select-option" value="just">Just</option>
                        <option class="mds-form__select-option" value="kidding">Kidding</option>
                    </select>
                    <div class="mds-form__select-visual-wrap"></div>
                    <span class="mds-form__select-open-indicator">
                        <svg class="mds-icon mds-form__select-open-icon" aria-hidden="true">
                            <use xlink:href="/icons/mds.svg#caret-down--s">
                            </use>
                        </svg>
                    </span>
                </div>
            </div>
            <div class="mds-form__field-group demo-flex-grow-1">
                <label class="mds-form__label" for="full-form-zip">
                    Zip
                </label>
                <input class="mds-form__input" type="text" id="full-form-zip">
            </div>
        </div>
        <div class="mds-form__field-group">
            <label class="mds-form__label" for="full-form-comments">
                Comments
            </label>
            <textarea class="mds-form__textarea" id="full-form-comments"></textarea>
        </div>
    </fieldset>
    <div class="demo-button-container">
        <button class="mds-button mds-button--primary" type="button" disabled>
            Submit
        </button>
    </div>
</form>

<form class="mds-form mds-form--medium-layout" method="post" action="form/processor">
    <fieldset class="mds-form__fieldset">
        <legend class="mds-form__legend">Address</legend>
        <mds-required-fields-key>Required fields</mds-required-fields-key>
        <mds-field-group>
            <mds-label for="full-form-first-name" required>First Name</mds-label>
            <mds-input id="full-form-first-name"></mds-input>
        </mds-field-group>
        <mds-field-group>
            <mds-label for="full-form-last-name" required>Last Name</mds-label>
            <mds-input id="full-form-first-name"></mds-input>
        </mds-field-group>
        <mds-field-group>
            <mds-label for="full-form-address">Address</mds-label>
            <mds-input id="full-form-address"></mds-input>
        </mds-field-group>
        <mds-field-group horizontal>
            <mds-field-group class="demo-flex-grow-1">
                <mds-label for="full-form-city">City</mds-label>
                <mds-input id="full-form-city"></mds-input>
            </mds-field-group>
            <mds-field-group class="demo-flex-grow-1">
                <mds-label for="full-form-state">State</mds-label>
                <mds-select class="demo-width-100" id="full-form-state" placeholder="Select your state" options='[{"text": "Just", "value": "just"}, {"text": "Kidding", "value": "kidding"}]'>
                </mds-select>
            </mds-field-group>
            <mds-field-group class="demo-flex-grow-1">
                <mds-label for="full-form-zip">Zip Code</mds-label>
                <mds-input id="full-form-zip"></mds-input>
            </mds-field-group>
        </mds-field-group>
        <mds-field-group>
            <mds-label for="full-form-comments">Comments</mds-label>
            <mds-textarea id="full-form-comments"></mds-textarea>
        </mds-field-group>
    </fieldset>
    <div class="demo-button-container">
        <mds-button disabled>Submit</mds-button>
    </div>
</form>

MDS Features

Uses the mds-form--medium-layout modifier class to apply medium form margins to all contained elements.
Uses either the mds-form__field-group--horizontal modifier class or the horizontal prop to create a horizontal group of inputs.

Customizations

Some custom styles are required to ensure the proper display of elements within a field group using the mds-form__field-group--horizontal modifier class or the horizontal prop:

A flex-grow: 1; property is required for each contained field group to ensure they expand to fill their available space.
Selects need a width: 100%; property applied to ensure they expand to fill their available space.

This example uses large form elements wrapped with a mds-form--large-layout modifier class to apply margin-based spacing. It uses a Required Fields Key, Labels (default, optional, and required), Inputs, Microcopy, Radio Group, and a Button.

First Name *

Last Name * Please provide your last name.

Email (Optional) We’ll never share your email with third parties.

Would you like to sign up for our newsletter? We won’t send you more than one email a week. Yes, please. No, thanks.

Required fields

First Name

Last Name

Please provide your last name.

We’ll never share your email with third parties.

We won’t send you more than one email a week.

Yes, please.

No, thanks.

HTML

Web Component

<form class="mds-form mds-form--large-layout" method="post" action="form/processor">
    <fieldset class="mds-form__fieldset">
        <legend class="mds-form__legend">Sign Up</legend>
        <span class="mds-form__required-fields-key mds-form__required-fields-key--large">Required fields</span>
        <div class="mds-form__field-group">
            <label class="mds-form__label mds-form__label--large" for="full-form-first-name">
                First Name
                <abbr class="mds-form__label-required-indicator" title="This field is required." aria-label="This field is required.">*</abbr>
            </label>
            <input class="mds-form__input mds-form__input--large" type="text" id="full-form-first-name">
        </div>
        <div class="mds-form__field-group mds-form__field-group--error">
            <label class="mds-form__label mds-form__label--large" for="full-form-last-name">
                Last Name
                <abbr class="mds-form__label-required-indicator" title="This field is required." aria-label="This field is required.">*</abbr>
            </label>
            <input class="mds-form__input mds-form__input--large" type="text" id="full-form-last-name" aria-describedby="full-form-last-name__error">
            <span class="mds-form__field-error mds-form__field-error--large" id="full-form-last-name__error" role="alert">
                <span class="mds-form__field-error-text">
                    Please provide your last name.
                </span>
            </span>
        </div>
        <div class="mds-form__field-group">
            <label class="mds-form__label mds-form__label--large" for="full-form-email__input">
                Email<span class="mds-form__label-optional">
                    (Optional)
                </span>
            </label>
            <span class="mds-form__microcopy mds-form__microcopy--large" id="full-form-email__microcopy">
                We’ll never share your email with third parties.
            </span>
            <input class="mds-form__input mds-form__input--large" type="text" id="full-form-email__input" aria-describedby="full-form-email__microcopy">
        </div>
        <div class="mds-form__field-group">
            <fieldset class="mds-form__radio-button-group mds-form__radio-button-group--large" role="radiogroup">
                <legend class="mds-form__radio-button-group-label">
                    Would you like to sign up for our newsletter?
                </legend>
                <span class="mds-form__microcopy mds-form__microcopy--large" id="full-form-newsletter__microcopy">
                    We won’t send you more than one email a week.
                </span>
                <label class="mds-form__radio-button mds-form__radio-button--large" for="yes,-please.--3416">
                    <input id="yes,-please.--3416" name="undefined-newsletter" value="blue" type="radio" class="mds-form__radio-button-input" checked aria-describedby="full-form-newsletter__microcopy" />
                    <span class="mds-form__radio-button-visible-wrap">
                        <span class="mds-form__radio-button-visual"></span>
                        <span class="mds-form__radio-button-text ">
                            Yes, please.
                        </span>
                    </span>
                </label>
                <label class="mds-form__radio-button mds-form__radio-button--large" for="no,-thanks.--46808">
                    <input id="no,-thanks.--46808" name="undefined-newsletter" value="blue" type="radio" class="mds-form__radio-button-input" aria-describedby="full-form-newsletter__microcopy" />
                    <span class="mds-form__radio-button-visible-wrap">
                        <span class="mds-form__radio-button-visual"></span>
                        <span class="mds-form__radio-button-text ">
                            No, thanks.
                        </span>
                    </span>
                </label>
            </fieldset>
        </div>
    </fieldset>
    <div class="demo-button-container">
        <button class="mds-button mds-button--primary mds-button--large" type="button" disabled>
            Sign Up
        </button>
    </div>
</form>

<form class="mds-form mds-form--large-layout" method="post" action="form/processor">
    <fieldset class="mds-form__fieldset">
        <legend class="mds-form__legend">Sign Up</legend>
        <mds-required-fields-key size="large">Required fields</mds-required-fields-key>
        <mds-field-group>
            <mds-label for="full-form-first-name" size="large" required>First Name</mds-label>
            <mds-input id="full-form-first-name" size="large"></mds-input>
        </mds-field-group>
        <mds-field-group error>
            <mds-label for="full-form-last-name" size="large" required>Last Name</mds-label>
            <mds-input aria-describedby="full-form-last-name__error" id="full-form-first-name" size="large"></mds-input>
            <mds-field-error id="full-form-last-name__error" size="large" visible>Please provide your last name.</mds-field-error>
        </mds-field-group>
        <mds-field-group>
            <mds-label for="full-form-email__microcopy" size="large" optional>Email</mds-label>
            <mds-microcopy id="full-form-email__microcopy" size="large">We’ll never share your email with third parties.</mds-microcopy>
            <mds-input aria-describedby="full-form-email__microcopy" id="full-form-address" size="large">
                <mds-input>
        </mds-field-group>
        <mds-field-group>
            <mds-radio-button-group size="large" label="Would you like to sign up for our newsletter?">
                <mds-microcopy id="full-form-newsletter__microcopy" size="large">We won’t send you more than one email a week.</mds-microcopy>
                <mds-radio-button aria-describedby="full-form-newsletter__microcopy" name="radio-group-example" size="large" value="yes" checked> Yes, please. </mds-radio-button>
                <mds-radio-button aria-describedby="full-form-newsletter__microcopy" name="radio-group-example" size="large" value="no"> No, thanks. </mds-radio-button>
            </mds-radio-button-group>
        </mds-field-group>
    </fieldset>
    <div class="demo-button-container">
        <mds-button size="large" disabled>Sign Up</mds-button>
    </div>
</form>

MDS Features

Uses the mds-form--large-layout modifier class to apply large form margins to all contained elements.
Uses the --large modifier classes or the large prop values on all form elements to render their large sizes.

CSS

Class References

Class	Applies to	Outcome
`mds-form--small-layout`	`mds-form`	Applies margin-based spacing to all contained form elements.
`mds-form--medium-layout`	`mds-form`	Applies margin-based spacing to all contained form elements.
`mds-form--large-layout`	`mds-form`	Applies margin-based spacing to all contained form elements.
`mds-form__field-group--horizontal`	`mds-form__field-group`	Changes the layout of form fields from vertical to horizontal.
`mds-form__field-group--error`	`mds-form__field-group`	Applies error styles to form elements.

Web Component

Field Group

Props

Prop	Type	Validation	Default	Description
`additionalClass`	String	—	—	A space-separated list of class names that will be appended to the default `mds-card` class.
`error`	Boolean	—	`false`	Applies error styles to form elements.
`horizontal`	Boolean	Only applies to `<mds-radio-button-group>`, `<mds-checkbox-group>` and other `<mds-field-group>`	`false`	Changes the layout of form fields from vertical to horizontal.

Slots

Default Slot

Pass two or more Form elements (Checkboxes, Field Errors, Inputs, Labels, Microcopy, Radio Buttons, Selects, or Textareas) between the <mds-field-group></mds-field-group> tags to set the content of the field group.

Usage Examples

Setting error via props. Using the default slot for contained form elements:

<form class="mds-form mds-form--medium-layout">
    <mds-field-group error>
        <mds-label for="first-name">First Name</mds-label>
        <mds-input aria-describedby="first-name-error" placeholder="First Name" id="first-name" type="text"></mds-input>
        <mds-field-error id="first-name-error">Please provide your first name.<mds-field-error>
    </mds-field-group>
</form>

Implementation

Always include a label with each form element.
Include a for attribute on each label with a value matching the id attribute on the corresponding Input, Textarea, or Select.
Use placeholder text to provide an example of the type of input you need from the user. For example, if you need a phone number in a certain format, include (123) 456-7890 as placeholder text.
Include an aria-describedby attribute on each Input, Textarea, or Select that has a Microcopy or a Field Error providing additional information. The value of the aria-describedby attribute must match the id attribute on the Microcopy or Field Error.
Always include role="alert" on Field Error components.
Every form element needs a visible Label.
Add aria-invalid="true" to an element where a validation error has occurred.
Use fieldset and legend for grouped form elements, such as Radio Buttons and Checkboxes.

Best Practices

Ensure all form elements are keyboard accessible.
Never use placeholder text in place of a label.

Elements

Form Wrappers

Spacing Elements

Field Groups

Field Sets

Examples

Address Form

MDS Features

Customizations

Sign Up Form

MDS Features

Related UI Components

Related UX Patterns

CSS

Class References

Web Component

Field Group

Props

Slots

Default Slot

Usage Examples

Implementation

Best Practices