The Radio Button: Enabling Exclusive User Selections
The Radio Button component enables users to make a single selection from a set of mutually exclusive options, a common form input element.
Features
Discover the key features of the Radio Button component.
Single Selection
Radio buttons allow users to select only one option, streamlining choices and preventing confusion. Users can easily indicate their preference with clear and distinct options.
Clear Visual Feedback
The selected option is visually highlighted, providing immediate feedback and aiding user understanding. This ensures users can easily identify their choice and confirms their selection, enhancing clarity and usability.
Intuitive Interface
Radio buttons provide a straightforward selection process, allowing users to make choices quickly and easily. With their intuitive design, users can navigate options effortlessly, improving overall usability and user satisfaction.
Anatomy
Radio Button Element
The circular element that users can select or deselect.
Example Use Cases
Forms and Surveys
Integrating radio buttons into forms and surveys to prompt users to choose from a predefined list of options for questions like gender, preferences, or feedback.
Settings and Preferences
Including radio buttons in settings screens or preference panels to enable users to customize their preferences by selecting one option from a list of choices.
Filtering and Sorting
Using radio buttons in filter or sorting interfaces to allow users to refine search results or organize data based on specific criteria.
Guidelines for Usage
When incorporating the Radio Button component into user interfaces, adhere to the following guidelines to ensure clarity, consistency, and usability:
Grouping: Organize radio buttons into logical groups, with each group representing a distinct set of choices. Group related options together to facilitate user comprehension and streamline decision-making.
Labels: Provide clear and descriptive labels for each radio button option to convey the meaning or purpose of the choice effectively. Use concise and understandable language to ensure clarity and avoid ambiguity.
Exclusive Selection: Ensure that radio buttons within the same group are mutually exclusive, meaning that selecting one option automatically deselects any previously selected option within the group.
Visual Feedback: Provide visual feedback to indicate the selected state of a radio button, such as changing its appearance (e.g., color, border) or displaying a checkmark or dot inside the button.
Touch Targets: Design radio buttons with an adequate touch target size to ensure ease of selection, especially on touch-enabled devices. Consider the recommended minimum touch target size for optimal accessibility and usability.
Consistency: Maintain visual consistency in the appearance and behavior of radio buttons across different parts of the application or website to enhance user familiarity and predictability.
Accessibility Considerations: Ensure that radio buttons are accessible to users with disabilities by providing keyboard navigation support, proper labeling for screen readers, and sufficient color contrast for users with visual impairments.
Variants
.radiobutton-default
The default state of the checkbox, indicating that it is unchecked.
.radiobutton-checked
The state of the checkbox when it is selected or checked by the user.
States
.radiobutton :enabled
The default state where the component is fully interactive and ready for user actions. It appears normal and invites interaction.
.radiobutton :hover
The state when a user places their cursor over the component, indicating it is ready for interaction and often visually changes to show responsiveness.
.radiobutton :focus
The state showing that the component is currently selected or active, highlighted for user awareness and accessibility purposes, often with a border or shadow.
.radiobutton :*disabled
The state where the component is visible but non-interactive, indicating it is not available for use. It often appears faded or greyed out to signal its inactivity.
Best Practices vs. Common Pitfalls
Do:
Use radio buttons when only one item can be selected from a list of options.
Combine radio buttons with descriptive headers and text to facilitate user understanding and decision-making, especially in complex choice structures.
Maintain consistent sizing within a radio button group to ensure visual harmony and ease of use.
Don't:
Use radio buttons for multi-selection scenarios; checkboxes are designed for that purpose.
Mix different sizes within a single radio button group as it can disrupt the visual flow and user experience.
Neglect the use of states, as they provide vital feedback and clarity on user selections.