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Checkboxes
<gcds-checkboxes>

Also called: checklist, check list.

Checkboxes provide a set of options for multiple responses.

Checkbox component preview

Build checkboxes

Use checkboxes when you’re expecting a person to select more than one option from a short list of responses.

Coding and accessibility for checkboxes

Apply required attributes

For the checkboxes to function properly, always use the following attributes with gcds-checkboxes:

  • name
  • options

Use the options attribute with checkboxes

The options attribute takes an array of objects to render each checkbox. The following is an example of one of the objects:

{
  'id'!: '',
  'label'!: '',
  'value'?: '',
  'checked'?: '',
  'hint'?: '',
}

Within the options attribute, always use the object's id and label properties for each checkbox. The rest of the properties are optional.

Use the value attribute

  • The value attribute provides a quick reference to the values of checked checkboxes inside the gcds-checkboxes component.
  • value is formatted as an array of strings. Example: [“checkboxOneValue”, checkboxTwoValue”]

Handle error messages and validation

  • Use the required attribute to activate the required validator. Validation will happen by default on the onBlur event. A missing or invalid entry will prompt an inline error message with preset text.

  • If you need to change the validation event, use the validate-on attribute. Validation can happen on blur, when the element loses focus, or manually with the validate() method.

  • Use the required attribute for fields that must be filled in. This places "required" at the end of the label.

  • Use the error-message attribute to include an error message text for all required inputs. Avoid using error messages for optional ones.

  • For optional fields, avoid adding the error-message attribute.

  • For an optional field that needs validation based on user input (like validating an email address format), opt to add custom validation with a custom error message.

For a group of checkboxes

  • Use the legend attribute when passing more than one object to the options attribute. gcds-checkboxes will not render if there is no legend defined with more than one checkbox.
  • Use the hint and error-message attributes to add additional information to the fieldset built into gcds-checkboxes.

For a single checkbox

  • Pass a single object to the options attribute to render a single checkbox without a fieldset.
  • Use the hint and error-message attributes to add additional information to the checkbox.

Get your code

Generate an instance of the component you need by selecting its code properties.

  1. Explore by choosing different code values to generate the instance you want.

  2. Get the code and pull it into your environment.

  3. Add any copy you need to the component (like text for a label).

Note: The code builder uses English for all code elements, which follows standard practice.

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2025-06-04