Checkboxes

Checkboxes allow the user to toggle the field state on (checked) or off (unchecked). They are mainly used in a couple of scenarios:

• A single checkbox: Used for binary choices, such as acknowledging terms and conditions in sign-up forms. Typically, this is represented by a boolean value.
• A checkbox group: Used to represent multiple choices, such as updating email marketing preferences. This can be represented by an array of values for each selected choice.

Checkboxes are more nuanced than that, and we’ve put a lot of thought into how they should behave as components.

Aria Patterns

Features

You can build checkboxes using either native HTML input[type="checkbox"] elements or other HTML elements. We provide behavior, state, and accessibility implementation for both cases with the same API and features.

Currently, the following features are implemented:

• Support for either input[type="checkbox"] or any other HTML elements as a base element for the checkbox.
• Automatic linking of labels, descriptions, and error messages to input and label elements with aria-* attributes.
• Custom checked/unchecked values.
• Support for the indeterminate state.
• Form management, data collection, and validation with Standard Schemas or native HTML5 validation.
• Support for orientation with horizontal and vertical values.
• v-model support for both single and grouped checkboxes.
• Supported Keyboard features:

Key	Description
⎵Space	Selects the focused checkbox item.
⇥Tab	Moves the focus to the next checkbox item or the next tab order element in the document.
⇧Shift + ⇥Tab	Moves the focus to the previous checkbox item or the previous tab order element in the document.

Anatomy

Input

I accept the terms

Checkbox Label

Choose Drink

Group Label

Tea

Coffee

Input

Water

Checkbox Label

Checkbox Group

Building a Checkbox component

The useCheckbox composable provides the behavior, state, and accessibility implementation for checkbox items. Checkbox items can be built with either input[type="checkbox"] or custom HTML elements depending on your styling needs.

You can start by importing the useCheckbox composable and using it in your checkbox component.

import { CheckboxProps, useCheckbox } from '@formwerk/core';

const props = defineProps<CheckboxProps>();

const { labelProps, inputProps } = useCheckbox(props);

The useCheckbox composable returns binding objects for the elements shown in the anatomy. You will use v-bind to bind them to the DOM elements.

<input v-bind="inputProps" />
<label v-bind="labelProps">{{ label }}</label>

These bindings contain all the necessary attributes and event listeners to manage the checkbox state and behavior and to ensure support for assistive technologies.

With that out of the way, let’s see how you can build a checkbox component. There are two ways to do it.

With input as a base element

This is how you would build a custom checkbox item component using the useCheckbox composable.

With the native input being limited in terms of styling, you can consider hiding it visually and instead use a custom element in its place. Note that while the element is visually hidden, it will still be announced by assistive technologies. Alternatively, you can use any element as a base instead.

The .sr-only class is used to hide the input element from the visual layout but keep it accessible to assistive technologies. You should have a similar class in your styling solution or framework as this use-case is very common.

Another thing to note is we’ve placed the input element inside a label element to ensure that the checkbox is still focusable and that clicking on the label also toggles the checkbox.

Checkbox.vue

App.vue

<script setup lang="ts">
import { ref } from 'vue';
import Checkbox from './Checkbox.vue';

const isChecked = ref(false);
</script>

<template>
  <Checkbox label="Terms" v-model="isChecked" />

  checked: {{ isChecked }}
</template>

<script setup lang="ts">
import { type CheckboxProps, useCheckbox } from '@formwerk/core';

const props = defineProps<CheckboxProps>();

const { labelProps, inputProps, errorMessage, errorMessageProps, isChecked } =
  useCheckbox(props);
</script>

<template>
  <div class="checkbox-item">
    <label v-bind="labelProps">
      <input v-bind="inputProps" class="sr-only" />

      <div class="checkbox-square">
        <svg
          v-if="isChecked"
          xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
          viewBox="0 0 256 256"
          class="fill-emerald-500"
        >
          <path
            d="M232.49,80.49l-128,128a12,12,0,0,1-17,0l-56-56a12,12,0,1,1,17-17L96,183,215.51,63.51a12,12,0,0,1,17,17Z"
          ></path>
        </svg>
      </div>

      {{ label }}
    </label>

    <div v-if="errorMessage" v-bind="errorMessageProps" class="error">
      {{ errorMessage }}
    </div>
  </div>
</template>

<style scoped>
.checkbox-item {
  --color-primary: #10b981;
  --color-focus: var(--color-primary);
  --color-white: #fff;
  --color-gray-100: #fafafa;
  --color-gray-400: #a1a1aa;
  --color-error: #f00;

  .checkbox-square {
    width: 1rem;
    height: 1rem;
    border-radius: 0.375rem;
    flex-shrink: 0;
    border: 1px solid var(--color-gray-400);
    display: flex;
    align-items: center;
    justify-content: center;
    background-color: var(--color-white);
  }

  svg {
    width: 0.9rem;
    height: 0.9rem;
    fill: var(--color-white);
  }

  label {
    display: inline-flex;
    gap: 4px;
    width: max-content;
    align-items: center;
    user-select: none;
    font-size: 14px;
    cursor: pointer;
    font-weight: 500;

    &:hover {
    }

    &:has(:focus) {
      .checkbox-square {
        border-color: var(--color-focus);
        outline: 1px solid var(--color-focus);
        background-color: var(--color-gray-100);
      }
    }

    &:has(:checked) {
      .checkbox-square {
        background-color: var(--color-primary);
        border-color: var(--color-primary);
      }
    }

    &:has(:disabled) {
      opacity: 0.5;
      cursor: not-allowed;
    }
  }

  .error {
    color: var(--color-error);
    font-size: 13px;
  }
}

/** This is a common utility CSS class, you can find it in your CSS framework of choice */
.sr-only {
  position: absolute;
  width: 1px;
  height: 1px;
  padding: 0;
  margin: -1px;
  overflow: hidden;
  clip: rect(0, 0, 0, 0);
  border: 0;
}
</style>

With other HTML elements as a base

For special styling needs, you don’t have to use the input element. You can use a custom HTML element as a base with the same API.

Checkbox.vue

App.vue

<script setup lang="ts">
import { ref } from 'vue';
import Checkbox from './Checkbox.vue';

const isChecked = ref(false);
</script>

<template>
  <Checkbox label="Terms" v-model="isChecked" />

  checked: {{ isChecked }}
</template>

<script setup lang="ts">
import { type CheckboxProps, useCheckbox } from '@formwerk/core';

const props = defineProps<CheckboxProps>();

const { labelProps, inputProps, errorMessage, errorMessageProps, isChecked } =
  useCheckbox(props);
</script>

<template>
  <div class="checkbox-item">
    <div v-bind="inputProps" class="checkbox-input">
      <div class="checkbox-square">
        <svg
          v-if="isChecked"
          xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
          viewBox="0 0 256 256"
          class="fill-emerald-500"
        >
          <path
            d="M232.49,80.49l-128,128a12,12,0,0,1-17,0l-56-56a12,12,0,1,1,17-17L96,183,215.51,63.51a12,12,0,0,1,17,17Z"
          ></path>
        </svg>
      </div>

      <div v-bind="labelProps">{{ label }}</div>
    </div>

    <div v-if="errorMessage" v-bind="errorMessageProps" class="error">
      {{ errorMessage }}
    </div>
  </div>
</template>

<style scoped>
.checkbox-item {
  --color-primary: #10b981;
  --color-focus: var(--color-primary);
  --color-white: #fff;
  --color-gray-100: #fafafa;
  --color-gray-400: #a1a1aa;
  --color-error: #f00;

  .checkbox-square {
    width: 1rem;
    height: 1rem;
    border-radius: 0.375rem;
    flex-shrink: 0;
    border: 1px solid var(--color-gray-400);
    display: flex;
    align-items: center;
    justify-content: center;
    background-color: var(--color-white);
  }

  svg {
    width: 0.9rem;
    height: 0.9rem;
    fill: var(--color-white);
  }

  .checkbox-input {
    display: inline-flex;
    gap: 4px;
    width: max-content;
    align-items: center;
    user-select: none;
    font-size: 14px;
    cursor: pointer;
    font-weight: 500;

    &:hover {
    }

    &:focus {
      outline: none;
      .checkbox-square {
        border-color: var(--color-focus);
        outline: 1px solid var(--color-focus);
        background-color: var(--color-gray-100);
      }
    }

    &[aria-checked='true'] {
      .checkbox-square {
        background-color: var(--color-primary);
        border-color: var(--color-primary);
      }
    }

    &[aria-disabled='true'] {
      opacity: 0.5;
      cursor: not-allowed;
    }
  }

  .error {
    color: var(--color-error);
    font-size: 13px;
  }
}

/** This is a common utility CSS class, you can find it in your CSS framework of choice */
.sr-only {
  position: absolute;
  width: 1px;
  height: 1px;
  padding: 0;
  margin: -1px;
  overflow: hidden;
  clip: rect(0, 0, 0, 0);
  border: 0;
}
</style>

Building a Checkbox Group component

You will use the useCheckboxGroup composable to build a checkbox group component. The composable offers the behavior, state, and accessibility implementation for checkbox groups.

Note

When a checkbox component is nested inside a checkbox group, it will NOT report its own state. With the exception of the isChecked state, all other states will report the group’s state instead. Think of it as the checkbox loses some sense of individuality and reports the group’s state as its own.

This also means v-model should be used on the group component and not on the individual checkboxes.

Assuming that you’ve already built a checkbox component using the useCheckbox composable as the two are tightly coupled, the following example shows how you can build a checkbox group component.

We will use a checkbox without an input element base just to show you that it does not matter what element you use as a base. The same behaviors will be provided for either.

CheckboxGroup.vue

App.vue

<script setup lang="ts">
import { ref } from 'vue';
import Checkbox from './Checkbox.vue';
import CheckboxGroup from './CheckboxGroup.vue';

const colors = ref([]);
</script>

<template>
  <CheckboxGroup label="Colors" v-model="colors">
    <Checkbox label="Red" value="red" />
    <Checkbox label="Green" value="green" />
    <Checkbox label="Blue" value="blue" />
  </CheckboxGroup>

  selected colors: {{ colors }}
</template>

<script setup lang="ts">
import { type CheckboxGroupProps, useCheckboxGroup } from '@formwerk/core';

const props = defineProps<CheckboxGroupProps>();

const {
  groupProps,
  labelProps,
  descriptionProps,
  errorMessageProps,
  errorMessage,
  isTouched,
} = useCheckboxGroup(props);
</script>

<template>
  <div
    v-bind="groupProps"
    class="checkbox-group"
    :class="{ 'is-touched': isTouched }"
  >
    <div v-bind="labelProps" class="group-label">{{ label }}</div>

    <div class="checkboxes-container">
      <slot />
    </div>

    <div v-if="errorMessage" v-bind="errorMessageProps" class="error">
      {{ errorMessage }}
    </div>

    <div v-else-if="description" v-bind="descriptionProps" class="hint">
      {{ description }}
    </div>
  </div>
</template>

<style scoped>
.checkbox-group {
  --color-text: #333;
  --color-hint: #666;
  --color-border: #d4d4d8;
  --color-focus: #007bff;
  --color-error: #f00;
  --color-valid: #059669;
  --color-hover: #eee;

  display: flex;
  flex-direction: column;

  .hint,
  .error {
    margin-top: 0.25rem;
  }

  .error {
    color: var(--color-error);
    display: none;
    font-size: 13px;
  }

  .hint {
    color: var(--color-hint);
    font-size: 13px;
    opacity: 0;
    transition: opacity 0.3s ease;
  }

  .checkboxes-container {
    margin-top: 0.25rem;
    display: flex;
    gap: 0.5rem;
  }

  .group-label {
    color: var(--color-text);
    display: block;
    margin-bottom: 0.25rem;
    font-size: 14px;
    font-weight: 500;
  }

  &:has(:focus) {
    .hint {
      opacity: 1;
    }
  }

  &.is-touched:has(:invalid) {
    .error {
      display: block;
    }

    .hint {
      display: none;
    }
  }
}
</style>

Validation

Checkbox components and checkbox groups can be validated by using Standard Schemas or native HTML5 validation via the schema prop on each of them.

When checkboxes are a part of a checkbox group, they will not report their own error messages as the group component should be responsible for displaying the error message.

HTML Constraints

The following properties are supported on both composables if you use the input element as a base for the checkbox.

Name	Type	Description
required	boolean	Whether the checkbox or group is required.

Here is an example of how to use the required property on either a CheckboxItem or a CheckboxGroup.

<script setup lang="ts">
import { ref } from 'vue';
import Checkbox from './Checkbox.vue';
import CheckboxGroup from './CheckboxGroup.vue';
</script>

<template>
  <!-- Single checkbox -->
  <Checkbox label="Terms" required />

  <!-- Checkbox group -->
  <CheckboxGroup name="test" label="Colors" required>
    <Checkbox label="Red" value="red" />
    <Checkbox label="Green" value="green" />
    <Checkbox label="Blue" value="blue" />
  </CheckboxGroup>
</template>

Note that marking any checkbox item that is part of a checkbox group as required will not make the group required and it will be ignored.

Standard Schema

Both useCheckbox and useCheckboxGroup support Standard Schema validation through the schema prop. This includes multiple providers like Zod, Valibot, Arktype, and more.

<script setup lang="ts">
import { z } from 'zod';
import Checkbox from './Checkbox.vue';
import CheckboxGroup from './CheckboxGroup.vue';

const schema = z.array(z.string()).min(1, 'Required');

const singleSchema = z.literal(true, 'Required');
</script>

<template>
  <!-- Single checkbox -->
  <Checkbox label="Terms" :value="true" :schema="singleSchema" />

  <!-- Checkbox group -->
  <CheckboxGroup label="Colors (Standard Schema)" :schema="schema">
    <Checkbox label="Red" value="red" />
    <Checkbox label="Green" value="green" />
    <Checkbox label="Blue" value="blue" />
  </CheckboxGroup>
</template>

Usage

Disabled

You can disable individual checkboxes or the whole group with the disabled prop on either. Disabled checkboxes are not focusable. Disabled groups are not submitted and are not validated.

<script setup lang="ts">
import Checkbox from './Checkbox.vue';
import CheckboxGroup from './CheckboxGroup.vue';
</script>

<template>
  <CheckboxGroup label="Checkbox Group">
    <Checkbox label="Option 1" value="1" />
    <Checkbox label="Option 2" value="2" />
    <Checkbox label="Option 3" value="3" disabled />
    <Checkbox label="Option 4" value="4" />
  </CheckboxGroup>

  <CheckboxGroup label="Disabled Group" disabled>
    <Checkbox label="Option 1" value="1" />
    <Checkbox label="Option 2" value="2" />
    <Checkbox label="Option 3" value="3" />
  </CheckboxGroup>
</template>

If you need to prevent the user from interacting with the checkboxes while still allowing it to submit, consider using readonly instead.

Readonly

Only available on the group and group-less checkboxes. The readonly prop prevents the user from interacting with the group/checkbox while still allowing it to submit and be validated.

<script setup lang="ts">
import Checkbox from './Checkbox.vue';
import CheckboxGroup from './CheckboxGroup.vue';
</script>

<template>
  <CheckboxGroup label="Checkbox Group">
    <Checkbox label="Option 1" value="1" />
    <Checkbox label="Option 2" value="2" />
    <Checkbox label="Option 3" value="3" readonly />
    <Checkbox label="Option 4" value="4" />
  </CheckboxGroup>

  <CheckboxGroup label="Readonly Group" readonly>
    <Checkbox label="Option 1" value="1" />
    <Checkbox label="Option 2" value="2" />
    <Checkbox label="Option 3" value="3" />
  </CheckboxGroup>
</template>

Indeterminate

Only available on the checkbox item. The indeterminate state is used to model a tri-state checkbox. One of the situations it is used in is when a checkbox group has a mix of checked and unchecked items.

Checkboxes that are indeterminate will change their checked state until the indeterminate state is removed.

<script setup lang="ts">
import { ref } from 'vue';
import Checkbox from './Checkbox.vue';
</script>

<template>
  <Checkbox label="Terms" indeterminate />
</template>

Group Checked State

The overall checked state of a group is reported via the groupState property on the useCheckboxGroup composable. The groupState property is an enum that represents if the group is entirely checked, unchecked, or mixed.

We will use a few SVGs to represent the group state visually.

CheckboxGroup.vue

App.vue

<script setup lang="ts">
import { ref } from 'vue';
import Checkbox from './Checkbox.vue';
import CheckboxGroup from './CheckboxGroup.vue';
</script>

<template>
  <CheckboxGroup label="Colors" v-model="colors">
    <Checkbox label="Red" value="red" />
    <Checkbox label="Green" value="green" />
    <Checkbox label="Blue" value="blue" />
  </CheckboxGroup>
</template>

<script setup lang="ts">
import Checkbox from './Checkbox.vue';
import { type CheckboxGroupProps, useCheckboxGroup } from '@formwerk/core';

const props = defineProps<CheckboxGroupProps>();

const { groupProps, groupState, labelProps } = useCheckboxGroup(props);

function toggleGroupState() {
  groupState.value = groupState.value === 'checked' ? 'unchecked' : 'checked';
}
</script>

<template>
  <div v-bind="groupProps">
    <div v-bind="labelProps" class="group-label">
      <svg
        xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
        width="18"
        height="18"
        fill="#000000"
        viewBox="0 0 256 256"
        @click="toggleGroupState"
      >
        <path
          v-if="groupState === 'checked'"
          d="M208,32H48A16,16,0,0,0,32,48V208a16,16,0,0,0,16,16H208a16,16,0,0,0,16-16V48A16,16,0,0,0,208,32Zm-34.34,77.66-56,56a8,8,0,0,1-11.32,0l-24-24a8,8,0,0,1,11.32-11.32L112,148.69l50.34-50.35a8,8,0,0,1,11.32,11.32Z"
        ></path>
        <path
          v-else-if="groupState === 'mixed'"
          d="M208,32H48A16,16,0,0,0,32,48V208a16,16,0,0,0,16,16H208a16,16,0,0,0,16-16V48A16,16,0,0,0,208,32ZM168,136H88a8,8,0,0,1,0-16h80a8,8,0,0,1,0,16Z"
        ></path>
        <path
          v-else
          d="M208,32H48A16,16,0,0,0,32,48V208a16,16,0,0,0,16,16H208a16,16,0,0,0,16-16V48A16,16,0,0,0,208,32Zm0,176H48V48H208V208Z"
        ></path>
      </svg>

      {{ label }}
    </div>

    <div class="checkboxes">
      <slot />
    </div>

    State: {{ groupState }}
  </div>
</template>

<style>
.group-label {
  display: flex;
  gap: 4px;
  align-items: center;
}

.checkboxes {
  margin-left: 1rem;
}
</style>

API

Checkbox

Props

These are the properties that can be passed to the useCheckbox composable.

Name	Type	Description
disabled	boolean	Whether the checkbox is disabled.
disableHtmlValidation	boolean	Whether HTML5 validation should be disabled for this checkbox.
falseValue	TValue	The value to use when unchecked.
indeterminate	boolean	Whether the checkbox is in an indeterminate state.
label	string	The label for the checkbox.
modelValue	TValue	The current value of the checkbox.
name	string	The name/path of the checkbox field.
readonly	boolean	Whether the checkbox is readonly.
required	boolean	Whether the checkbox is required.
schema	StandardSchemaV1<TInput, TOutput>	The validation schema for the checkbox.
standalone	boolean	Whether the checkbox should operate independently of any checkbox group.
trueValue	TValue	The value to use when checked.
value	TValue	The value to use when part of a checkbox group.

Returns

These are the properties in the object returned by the useCheckbox composable.

Name	Type	Description
displayError	() => string	Display the error message for the field.
errorMessage	Ref<string>	The error message for the field.
errorMessageProps	Ref<{ 'aria-live': "polite"; 'aria-atomic': boolean; id: string; }> Ref<{ 'aria-live': "polite"; 'aria-atomic': boolean; id: string; }>	Props for the error message element.
errors	Ref<{}>	The errors for the field.
fieldValue	Ref<TValue>	The value of the field.
inputEl	Ref<HTMLElement>	Reference to the input element.
inputProps	Ref<CheckboxDomInputProps | CheckboxDomProps> Ref<CheckboxDomInputProps | CheckboxDomProps>	Props for the input element.
isChecked	Ref<boolean>	Whether the checkbox is checked.
isDirty	Ref<boolean>	Whether the field is dirty.
isDisabled	Ref<boolean>	Whether the field is disabled.
isGrouped	boolean	Whether the checkbox is grouped.
isTouched	Ref<boolean>	Whether the field is touched.
isValid	Ref<boolean>	Whether the field is valid.
labelProps	Ref<AriaLabelProps>	Props for the label element.
setErrors	(messages: Arrayable<string>) => void (messages: Arrayable<string>) => void	Sets the errors for the field.
setTouched	(touched: boolean) => void	Sets the touched state for the field.
setValue	(value: TValue) => void	Sets the value for the field.
submitErrorMessage	Ref<string>	The error message for the field from the last submit attempt.
submitErrors	Ref<{}>	The errors for the field from the last submit attempt.
toggle	(force?: boolean) => void	Toggles the value of the checkbox.

Checkbox Group

These are the properties that can be passed to the useCheckboxGroup composable.

Props

These are the properties in the object returned by the useCheckboxGroup composable.

Name	Type	Description
description	string	Optional description text for the checkbox group.
dir	Direction	The text direction for the checkbox group.
disabled	boolean	Whether the checkbox group is disabled.
disableHtmlValidation	boolean	Whether HTML5 validation should be disabled for this checkbox group.
label	string	The label for the checkbox group.
modelValue	{}	The current value of the checkbox group.
name	string	The name/path of the checkbox group.
readonly	boolean	Whether the checkbox group is readonly.
required	boolean	Whether the checkbox group is required.
schema	StandardSchemaV1<TInput, TOutput>	The validation schema for the checkbox group.

Returns

These are the properties in the object returned by the useCheckboxGroup composable.

Name	Type	Description
descriptionProps	AriaDescriptionProps	Props for the description element.
displayError	() => string	Display the error message for the field.
errorMessage	Ref<string>	The error message for the field.
errorMessageProps	Ref<{ 'aria-live': "polite"; 'aria-atomic': boolean; id: string; }> Ref<{ 'aria-live': "polite"; 'aria-atomic': boolean; id: string; }>	Props for the error message element.
errors	Ref<{}>	The errors for the field.
fieldValue	Ref<TValue>	The value of the field.
groupProps	Ref<CheckboxGroupDomProps>	Props for the group element.
groupState	Ref<CheckboxGroupState>	The state of the checkbox group.
isDirty	Ref<boolean>	Whether the field is dirty.
isDisabled	Ref<boolean>	Whether the field is disabled.
isTouched	Ref<boolean>	Whether the field is touched.
isValid	Ref<boolean>	Whether the field is valid.
labelProps	Ref<AriaLabelProps>	Props for the label element.
setErrors	(messages: Arrayable<string>) => void (messages: Arrayable<string>) => void	Sets the errors for the field.
setTouched	(touched: boolean) => void	Sets the touched state for the field.
setValue	(value: {}) => void	Sets the value for the field.
submitErrorMessage	Ref<string>	The error message for the field from the last submit attempt.
submitErrors	Ref<{}>	The errors for the field from the last submit attempt.
validityDetails	Ref<ValidityState>	Validity details for the checkbox group.