Forms · WCAG 2.0 Level A
Form elements must have labels
Ensure every form element has a label.
What it means
The label rule flags elements that fail this check. It maps to WCAG success criterion 4.1.2.
Who it affects
Screen reader users, voice control users and people with cognitive disabilities filling in forms.
How to fix it
Connect each input to a visible label with matching for and id attributes. Placeholder text is not a label.
<label for="email">Email</label>
<input id="email" type="email" autocomplete="email">Check it on your site
Run a free scan. If this rule fails, the results list the affected elements. Deque, which maintains axe-core, also documents this rule in detail: Deque University: label.
Quick answers
What does the axe rule "label" check?
Ensure every form element has a label.
How do I fix "Form elements must have labels"?
Connect each input to a visible label with matching for and id attributes. Placeholder text is not a label.
Who is affected by label failures?
Screen reader users, voice control users and people with cognitive disabilities filling in forms.
Automated accessibility scan. Results are informational and may not identify every accessibility issue. This service is not legal advice, a compliance certification, or a substitute for comprehensive manual accessibility testing.