useCheckbox

Provides the behavior and accessibility implementation for a checkbox component. Checkboxes allow users to select multiple items from a list of individual items, or to mark one individual item as selected.

install	`yarn add @react-aria/checkbox`
version	3.3.4
usage	`import {useCheckbox} from '@react-aria/checkbox'`

View ARIA spec

W3C

API#

useCheckbox(
  props: AriaCheckboxProps,
  state: ToggleState,
  inputRef: RefObject<HTMLInputElement>
): CheckboxAria

Features#

Checkboxes can be built with the <input> HTML element, but this can be difficult to style. useCheckbox helps achieve accessible checkboxes that can be styled as needed.

Built with a native HTML <input> element, which can be optionally visually hidden to allow custom styling
Full support for browser features like form autofill
Keyboard focus management and cross browser normalization
Labeling support for assistive technology
Indeterminate state support

Anatomy#

A checkbox consists of a visual selection indicator and a label. Checkboxes support three selection states: checked, unchecked, and indeterminate. Users may click or touch a checkbox to toggle the selection state, or use the Tab key to navigate to it and the Space key to toggle it.

useCheckbox returns props to be spread onto its input element:

Name	Type	Description
`inputProps`	`InputHTMLAttributes<HTMLInputElement>`	Props for the input element.

Selection state is managed by the useToggleState hook in @react-stately/toggle. The state object should be passed as an option to useCheckbox.

In most cases, checkboxes should have a visual label. If the checkbox does not have a visible label, an aria-label or aria-labelledby prop must be passed instead to identify the element to assistive technology.

Example#

import {useCheckbox} from '@react-aria/checkbox';
import {useToggleState} from '@react-stately/toggle';

function Checkbox(props) {
  let {children} = props;
  let state = useToggleState(props);
  let ref = React.useRef();
  let {inputProps} = useCheckbox(props, state, ref);

  return (
    <label style={{display: 'block'}}>
      <input {...inputProps} ref={ref} />
      {children}
    </label>
  );
}

<Checkbox>Test</Checkbox>
<Checkbox isIndeterminate>Test</Checkbox>

import {useCheckbox} from '@react-aria/checkbox';
import {useToggleState} from '@react-stately/toggle';

function Checkbox(props) {
  let {children} = props;
  let state = useToggleState(props);
  let ref = React.useRef();
  let {inputProps} = useCheckbox(props, state, ref);

  return (
    <label style={{display: 'block'}}>
      <input {...inputProps} ref={ref} />
      {children}
    </label>
  );
}

<Checkbox>Test</Checkbox>
<Checkbox isIndeterminate>Test</Checkbox>

import {useCheckbox} from '@react-aria/checkbox';
import {useToggleState} from '@react-stately/toggle';

function Checkbox(
  props
) {
  let { children } =
    props;
  let state =
    useToggleState(
      props
    );
  let ref = React
    .useRef();
  let { inputProps } =
    useCheckbox(
      props,
      state,
      ref
    );

  return (
    <label
      style={{
        display: 'block'
      }}
    >
      <input
        {...inputProps}
        ref={ref}
      />
      {children}
    </label>
  );
}

<Checkbox>
  Test
</Checkbox>
<Checkbox
  isIndeterminate
>
  Test
</Checkbox>

Styling#

To build a custom styled checkbox, you can make the native input element visually hidden. This is possible using the <VisuallyHidden> utility component from @react-aria/visually-hidden. It is still in the DOM and accessible to assistive technology, but invisible. This example uses SVG to build the visual checkbox, which is hidden from screen readers with aria-hidden.

For keyboard accessibility, a focus ring is important to indicate which element has keyboard focus. This is implemented with the useFocusRing hook from @react-aria/focus. When isFocusVisible is true, an extra SVG element is rendered to indicate focus. The focus ring is only visible when the user is interacting with a keyboard, not with a mouse or touch.

import {VisuallyHidden} from '@react-aria/visually-hidden';
import {useFocusRing} from '@react-aria/focus';

function Checkbox(props) {
  let state = useToggleState(props);
  let ref = React.useRef();
  let {inputProps} = useCheckbox(props, state, ref);
  let {isFocusVisible, focusProps} = useFocusRing();

  return (
    <label style={{display: 'flex', alignItems: 'center'}}>
      <VisuallyHidden>
        <input {...inputProps} {...focusProps} ref={ref} />
      </VisuallyHidden>
      <svg
        width={24}
        height={24}
        aria-hidden="true"
        style={{marginRight: 4}}>
        <rect
          x={state.isSelected ? 4 : 5}
          y={state.isSelected ? 4 : 5}
          width={state.isSelected ? 16 : 14}
          height={state.isSelected ? 16 : 14}
          fill={state.isSelected ? 'orange' : 'none'}
          stroke={state.isSelected ? 'none' : 'gray'}
          strokeWidth={2} />
        {state.isSelected &&
          <path
            transform="translate(7 7)"
            d={`M3.788 9A.999.999 0 0 1 3 8.615l-2.288-3a1 1 0 1 1
            1.576-1.23l1.5 1.991 3.924-4.991a1 1 0 1 1 1.576 1.23l-4.712
            6A.999.999 0 0 1 3.788 9z`} />
        }
        {isFocusVisible &&
          <rect
            x={1}
            y={1}
            width={22}
            height={22}
            fill="none"
            stroke="orange"
            strokeWidth={2} />
        }
      </svg>
      {props.children}
    </label>
  );
}

<Checkbox>Foo</Checkbox>

import {VisuallyHidden} from '@react-aria/visually-hidden';
import {useFocusRing} from '@react-aria/focus';

function Checkbox(props) {
  let state = useToggleState(props);
  let ref = React.useRef();
  let { inputProps } = useCheckbox(props, state, ref);
  let { isFocusVisible, focusProps } = useFocusRing();

  return (
    <label
      style={{ display: 'flex', alignItems: 'center' }}
    >
      <VisuallyHidden>
        <input {...inputProps} {...focusProps} ref={ref} />
      </VisuallyHidden>
      <svg
        width={24}
        height={24}
        aria-hidden="true"
        style={{ marginRight: 4 }}
      >
        <rect
          x={state.isSelected ? 4 : 5}
          y={state.isSelected ? 4 : 5}
          width={state.isSelected ? 16 : 14}
          height={state.isSelected ? 16 : 14}
          fill={state.isSelected ? 'orange' : 'none'}
          stroke={state.isSelected ? 'none' : 'gray'}
          strokeWidth={2}
        />
        {state.isSelected &&
          (
            <path
              transform="translate(7 7)"
              d={`M3.788 9A.999.999 0 0 1 3 8.615l-2.288-3a1 1 0 1 1
            1.576-1.23l1.5 1.991 3.924-4.991a1 1 0 1 1 1.576 1.23l-4.712
            6A.999.999 0 0 1 3.788 9z`}
            />
          )}
        {isFocusVisible &&
          (
            <rect
              x={1}
              y={1}
              width={22}
              height={22}
              fill="none"
              stroke="orange"
              strokeWidth={2}
            />
          )}
      </svg>
      {props.children}
    </label>
  );
}

<Checkbox>Foo</Checkbox>

import {VisuallyHidden} from '@react-aria/visually-hidden';
import {useFocusRing} from '@react-aria/focus';

function Checkbox(
  props
) {
  let state =
    useToggleState(
      props
    );
  let ref = React
    .useRef();
  let { inputProps } =
    useCheckbox(
      props,
      state,
      ref
    );
  let {
    isFocusVisible,
    focusProps
  } = useFocusRing();

  return (
    <label
      style={{
        display: 'flex',
        alignItems:
          'center'
      }}
    >
      <VisuallyHidden>
        <input
          {...inputProps}
          {...focusProps}
          ref={ref}
        />
      </VisuallyHidden>
      <svg
        width={24}
        height={24}
        aria-hidden="true"
        style={{
          marginRight: 4
        }}
      >
        <rect
          x={state
              .isSelected
            ? 4
            : 5}
          y={state
              .isSelected
            ? 4
            : 5}
          width={state
              .isSelected
            ? 16
            : 14}
          height={state
              .isSelected
            ? 16
            : 14}
          fill={state
              .isSelected
            ? 'orange'
            : 'none'}
          stroke={state
              .isSelected
            ? 'none'
            : 'gray'}
          strokeWidth={2}
        />
        {state
          .isSelected &&
          (
            <path
              transform="translate(7 7)"
              d={`M3.788 9A.999.999 0 0 1 3 8.615l-2.288-3a1 1 0 1 1
            1.576-1.23l1.5 1.991 3.924-4.991a1 1 0 1 1 1.576 1.23l-4.712
            6A.999.999 0 0 1 3.788 9z`}
            />
          )}
        {isFocusVisible &&
          (
            <rect
              x={1}
              y={1}
              width={22}
              height={22}
              fill="none"
              stroke="orange"
              strokeWidth={2}
            />
          )}
      </svg>
      {props.children}
    </label>
  );
}

<Checkbox>
  Foo
</Checkbox>

Internationalization#

RTL#

In right-to-left languages, the checkbox should be mirrored. The checkbox should be placed on the right side of the label. Ensure that your CSS accounts for this.

Name	Type	Description
`isIndeterminate`	`boolean`	Indeterminism is presentational only. The indeterminate visual representation remains regardless of user interaction.
`children`	`ReactNode`	The label for the element.
`defaultSelected`	`boolean`	Whether the element should be selected (uncontrolled).
`isSelected`	`boolean`	Whether the element should be selected (controlled).
`onChange`	`( (isSelected: boolean )) => void`	Handler that is called when the element's selection state changes.
`value`	`string`	The value of the input element, used when submitting an HTML form. See MDN.
`name`	`string`	The name of the input element, used when submitting an HTML form. See MDN.
`isDisabled`	`boolean`	Whether the input is disabled.
`isReadOnly`	`boolean`	Whether the input can be selected but not changed by the user.
`validationState`	`ValidationState`	Whether the input should display its "valid" or "invalid" visual styling.
`isRequired`	`boolean`	Whether user input is required on the input before form submission. Often paired with the `necessityIndicator` prop to add a visual indicator to the input.
`autoFocus`	`boolean`	Whether the element should receive focus on render.
`onFocus`	`( (e: FocusEvent )) => void`	Handler that is called when the element receives focus.
`onBlur`	`( (e: FocusEvent )) => void`	Handler that is called when the element loses focus.
`onFocusChange`	`( (isFocused: boolean )) => void`	Handler that is called when the element's focus status changes.
`onKeyDown`	`( (e: KeyboardEvent )) => void`	Handler that is called when a key is pressed.
`onKeyUp`	`( (e: KeyboardEvent )) => void`	Handler that is called when a key is released.
`aria-controls`	`string`	Identifies the element (or elements) whose contents or presence are controlled by the current element.
`excludeFromTabOrder`	`boolean`	Whether to exclude the element from the sequential tab order. If true, the element will not be focusable via the keyboard by tabbing. This should be avoided except in rare scenarios where an alternative means of accessing the element or its functionality via the keyboard is available.
`id`	`string`	The element's unique identifier. See MDN.
`aria-label`	`string`	Defines a string value that labels the current element.
`aria-labelledby`	`string`	Identifies the element (or elements) that labels the current element.
`aria-describedby`	`string`	Identifies the element (or elements) that describes the object.
`aria-details`	`string`	Identifies the element (or elements) that provide a detailed, extended description for the object.
`aria-errormessage`	`string`	Identifies the element that provides an error message for the object.

'valid' | 'invalid'

BaseEvent<ReactKeyboardEvent<any>>

SyntheticEvent & {stopPropagation: () => void,
continuePropagation: () => void
}

Properties

Name	Type	Description
`isSelected`	`boolean`	Whether the toggle is selected.

Methods

Method	Description
`setSelected( (isSelected: boolean )): void`	Updates selection state.
`toggle(): void`	Toggle the selection state.

Name	Type	Description
`inputProps`	`InputHTMLAttributes<HTMLInputElement>`	Props for the input element.

Provides state management for toggle components like checkboxes and switches.

useToggleState(
  (props: ToggleProps
)): ToggleState

Name	Type	Description
`children`	`ReactNode`	The label for the element.
`defaultSelected`	`boolean`	Whether the element should be selected (uncontrolled).
`isSelected`	`boolean`	Whether the element should be selected (controlled).
`onChange`	`( (isSelected: boolean )) => void`	Handler that is called when the element's selection state changes.
`value`	`string`	The value of the input element, used when submitting an HTML form. See MDN.
`name`	`string`	The name of the input element, used when submitting an HTML form. See MDN.
`isDisabled`	`boolean`	Whether the input is disabled.
`isReadOnly`	`boolean`	Whether the input can be selected but not changed by the user.
`validationState`	`ValidationState`	Whether the input should display its "valid" or "invalid" visual styling.
`isRequired`	`boolean`	Whether user input is required on the input before form submission. Often paired with the `necessityIndicator` prop to add a visual indicator to the input.
`autoFocus`	`boolean`	Whether the element should receive focus on render.
`onFocus`	`( (e: FocusEvent )) => void`	Handler that is called when the element receives focus.
`onBlur`	`( (e: FocusEvent )) => void`	Handler that is called when the element loses focus.
`onFocusChange`	`( (isFocused: boolean )) => void`	Handler that is called when the element's focus status changes.
`onKeyDown`	`( (e: KeyboardEvent )) => void`	Handler that is called when a key is pressed.
`onKeyUp`	`( (e: KeyboardEvent )) => void`	Handler that is called when a key is released.

VisuallyHidden hides its children visually, while keeping content visible to screen readers.

Name	Type	Default	Description
`children`	`ReactNode`	—	The content to visually hide.
`elementType`	`string \| JSXElementConstructor<any>`	`'div'`	The element type for the container.
`isFocusable`	`boolean`	—	Whether the element should become visible on focus, for example skip links.

Determines whether a focus ring should be shown to indicate keyboard focus. Focus rings are visible only when the user is interacting with a keyboard, not with a mouse, touch, or other input methods.

useFocusRing(
  (props: FocusRingProps
)): FocusRingAria

Name	Type	Default	Description
`within`	`boolean`	`'false'`	Whether to show the focus ring when something inside the container element has focus (true), or only if the container itself has focus (false).
`isTextInput`	`boolean`	—	Whether the element is a text input.
`autoFocus`	`boolean`	—	Whether the element will be auto focused.

Name	Type	Description
`isFocused`	`boolean`	Whether the element is currently focused.
`isFocusVisible`	`boolean`	Whether keyboard focus should be visible.
`focusProps`	`HTMLAttributes<HTMLElement>`	Props to apply to the container element with the focus ring.