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Radio button

Use radio buttons when you have a group of mutually exclusive choices and only one selection from the group is allowed.

Overview

Radio buttons are used for mutually exclusive choices, not for multiple choices. Only one radio button can be selected at a time. When a user chooses a new item, the previous choice is automatically deselected.

When to use

Form

Can be used in tiles, data tables, modals, side panels, and in forms on full pages.

Settings

Used to change from one setting to another in a menu, page, or component. It can often act as a filtering mechanism.

Example of radio buttons in a form

When not to use

If a user can select from multiple options, use checkboxes instead of radio buttons. Radio buttons allow the user to select only one item in a set whereas checkboxes allow the user to select multiple items.

Do use checkboxes when multiple items can be selected.

Do use checkboxes when multiple items can be selected.

Don't use radio buttons when multiple items can be selected.

Don't use radio buttons when multiple items can be selected.

Live demo

CodeSandbox React Angular Vue Web Components 


  <RadioButtonGroup

    defaultSelected="default-selected"

    legendText="Radio button heading"

    name="radio-button-group"

    valueSelected="default-selected"

  >

    <RadioButton

      id="radio-1"

      labelText="Radio button label"

      value="standard"

    />

    <RadioButton

      id="radio-2"

      labelText="Radio button label"

      value="default-selected"

    />

    <RadioButton

      id="radio-3"

      labelText="Radio button label"

      value="disabled"

    />

  </RadioButtonGroup>
RadioButtonGroup
orientation
labelPosition

Formatting

Anatomy

The radio button component is comprised of a set of clickable circles (the inputs) with text labels positioned to the right. If there is a group of radio buttons, a group label can be added.

Anatomy of radio buttons
  1. Group label (optional): Describes the group of options or provides guidance for making a selection.
  2. Radio button input: A radio button indicating the appropriate state. By default an option is selected.
  3. Radio button label: Describes the information you want to select or unselect.

Alignment

Radio button labels are positioned to the right of their inputs in languages that read left to right. If there is a radio button grouping, they can be laid out vertically or horizontally depending on the use case and the structure of the UI. When possible, arrange the radio button and checkbox groups vertically for easier reading.

Vertically stacked versus horizontal alignment

Vertically stacked versus horizontal alignment

For languages that read right to left, it’s acceptable to place labels to the left of the inputs.

Example of radio buttons for languages that read right to left instead of left to right

Example of radio buttons for languages that read right to left instead of left to right

Placement

The radio button component is often used in forms. Forms can be placed on a full page, in a modal, or in a side panel. A radio button can also be used for changing settings in a menu or selecting a singular item in a data table.

Placement of radio buttons

Radio buttons in a form should be placed at least 32px (layout-03) below or before the next component. Spacing of 24px (layout-02) or 16px (layout-01) can also be used when space is more restricted or if the form is more complex.

For more information on spacing in forms, see our form style guidance.

Spacing between a radio button and other components in a form

Spacing between a radio button and other components in a form

Content

Main elements

Group labels (optional)

A heading can accompany a set of radio buttons to provide further context or clarity. In some cases, a group of radio buttons may be within a larger group of components that already have a group label. In this case, an additional group label for the radio button component itself is not needed.

  • A group label can either state the category of the grouping or consicely instruct what actions to take below depending on the context.
  • Use sentence case for group labels.

Radio button labels

  • Always use clear and concise labels for radio buttons.
  • Labels appear to the right of radio button inputs.

Overflow content

  • We recommend radio button labels being fewer than three words.
  • If you are tight on space, consider rewording the label. Do not truncate radio button label text with an ellipsis.
  • Long labels may wrap to a second line, and this is preferable to truncation.
  • Text should wrap beneath the radio button so the control and label are top aligned.
Spacing between a radio button and other components in a form
Do let text wrap beneath the radio button so the control and label are top aligned.

Do let text wrap beneath the radio button so the control and label are top aligned.

Do not vertically center wrapped text with the radio button.

Do not vertically center wrapped text with the radio button.

Further guidance

For further content guidance, see Carbon’s content guidelines.

Behaviors

States

The radio button input allows for two states: unselected and selected. The default view of a radio button is having at least one radio button preselected. Only one radio button should be selected at a time. When a user chooses a new item, the previous choice is automatically deselected.

Examples of unselected and selected radio buttons

In addition to unselected and selected states, radio buttons also have states for focus, disabled, and read-only. When deciding whether to use a disabled or read-only state for radio buttons, see our Read-only states pattern guidance.

Examples of focus, disabled, and read-only states

Interactions

Mouse

Users can trigger an item by clicking the radio button input directly or by clicking the radio button label. Having both regions interactive creates a more accessible click target.

Click targets for radio buttons

Keyboard

One radio button should be selected by default. Users can navigate between radio button inputs by pressing Up or Down arrow keys. If a user lands on a radio button set without a default indicator, they can press Space to select the radio button or they can press an arrow key to select the next radio button. For additional keyboard interactions, see the accessibility tab.

Related

Radio buttons versus checkboxes

Radio buttons allow users to select one option from a group of mutually exclusive choices, while checkboxes allow for a selection of one of more options from a group. In the use cases where multiple selections are allowed, use the checkbox component instead of the radio button.

Radio button verses selectable tile

Radio buttons should have concise, easy to compare options. If more information is required to make a choice, like pricing plans or additional links, consider using a selectable tile.

Radio button verses toggle switch

Toggle switches are preferred when the user options are limited to two choices—on and off or true and false. By comparison, radio buttons, radio buttons can have many other options.

Structured list

If a user needs to choose a singular item from a list that has simple data and multiple columns, a selectable structured list can be used.

Tables

See the data table component for guidance on how to use radio buttons within a table.

References

Jakob Nielson, Checkboxes vs. Radio Buttons (Nielsen Norman Group, 2004)

Kara Pernice, Radio Buttons: Select One by Default or Leave All Unselected? (Nielsen Norman Group, 2014)

Feedback

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