Form input missing label

What this means

A form input (text field, dropdown, checkbox, etc.) is not associated with a visible label. Screen reader users cannot determine what information the field expects.

WCAG requirement

• 1.3.1 — Info and Relationships: information and relationships conveyed visually must be programmatically determinable
• 4.1.2 — Name, Role, Value: all user interface components must have an accessible name

Common causes

• Using placeholder text instead of a <label> element
• A visible label exists but is not connected to the input (missing for attribute)
• Custom-styled inputs that replace native <input> elements without proper ARIA

How to fix

1. Use <label> elements: <label for="email">Email address</label><input id="email" type="email">
2. Don’t rely on placeholder: placeholders disappear when the user starts typing and are not a substitute for labels
3. For visually hidden labels: use a CSS class that hides the label visually but keeps it available to screen readers
4. Group related fields: use <fieldset> and <legend> for groups of checkboxes or radio buttons