How to Use ARIA Required Correctly: Making Mandatory Fields Crystal Clear

7 min read

What is ARIA Required?

Imagine filling out an important application form, spending time carefully entering your information, only to discover after clicking submit that you missed several required fields—and there was no clear way to know which fields were mandatory beforehand. This frustrating experience is exactly what happens when forms don't properly communicate which fields are required to all users.

ARIA required is an HTML attribute (aria-required="true") that programmatically indicates to assistive technologies that a form field must be filled out before the form can be submitted. While visual users might see asterisks or other visual cues, screen reader users rely on these ARIA attributes to understand which fields are mandatory.

Required Field Indication Quality:

  • Clearly Marked: All required fields are marked both visually and programmatically, with consistent indicators
  • Partially Marked: Most required fields are indicated, but some may lack proper programmatic marking
  • Poorly Marked: Required fields are unclear or unmarked, leading to form submission errors and user frustration

Why Marking Required Fields Matters

Properly indicating required fields serves several critical functions that benefit all users:

  • Screen Reader Announcement: Screen readers announce when fields are required, allowing blind users to understand form requirements before attempting submission.
  • Error Prevention: When users know which fields are mandatory upfront, they can complete them correctly the first time, avoiding validation errors.
  • Form Completion Efficiency: Users can prioritize required fields and complete forms more efficiently when requirements are clear.
  • Cognitive Load Reduction: Clear required field indicators reduce the mental effort needed to understand form requirements, helping users with cognitive disabilities and everyone else.
  • User Confidence: When requirements are transparent, users feel more confident about completing forms correctly.
  • Reduced Abandonment: Forms with clear requirements experience lower abandonment rates because users understand expectations upfront.

Without proper required field marking, forms become guessing games that frustrate users and often result in incomplete submissions or abandoned tasks.

The Hidden Requirement Problem

Many forms have "hidden requirements"—fields that must be completed but aren't clearly marked as required. This creates a particularly frustrating experience for screen reader users who may complete what they think is the entire form, only to encounter validation errors that force them to hunt for missing required fields.

Understanding ARIA Required vs HTML Required

There are two main ways to mark fields as required, each serving different purposes:

HTML Required Attribute

The HTML required attribute provides both semantic meaning and browser validation.

<!-- HTML required attribute -->
<label for="email">Email address</label>
<input type="email" id="email" name="email" required>

<label for="password">Password</label>
<input type="password" id="password" name="password" required>

<label for="country">Country</label>
<select id="country" name="country" required>
  <option value="">Select your country</option>
  <option value="us">United States</option>
  <option value="ca">Canada</option>
</select>

<!-- Required textarea -->
<label for="message">Message</label>
<textarea id="message" name="message" required></textarea>

<!-- Required checkbox -->
<label>
  <input type="checkbox" name="terms" required>
  I agree to the terms and conditions
</label>

ARIA Required Attribute

The aria-required attribute provides semantic information to assistive technologies without affecting browser validation.

<!-- ARIA required for custom validation -->
<label for="phone">Phone number</label>
<input type="tel" id="phone" name="phone" aria-required="true">

<label for="birth-date">Date of birth</label>
<input type="date" id="birth-date" name="birthDate" aria-required="true">

<!-- Custom form controls -->
<div role="group" aria-labelledby="address-heading">
  <h3 id="address-heading">Address</h3>
  <label for="street">Street address</label>
  <input type="text" id="street" name="street" aria-required="true">
  
  <label for="city">City</label>
  <input type="text" id="city" name="city" aria-required="true">
</div>

<!-- When using custom validation -->
<label for="username">Username</label>
<input type="text" 
       id="username" 
       name="username" 
       aria-required="true"
       aria-describedby="username-requirements">
<div id="username-requirements">
  Must be 3-20 characters, letters and numbers only
</div>

When to Use Each Approach

<!-- Best practice: Use both for maximum compatibility -->
<label for="full-name">Full name</label>
<input type="text" 
       id="full-name" 
       name="fullName" 
       required 
       aria-required="true">

<!-- HTML required alone (modern browsers with standard validation) -->
<label for="email-simple">Email address</label>
<input type="email" id="email-simple" name="email" required>

<!-- ARIA required alone (custom validation or non-standard controls) -->
<label for="custom-field">Custom field</label>
<div role="textbox" 
     contenteditable="true" 
     aria-required="true"
     aria-label="Custom input field">
</div>

<!-- Group-level requirements -->
<fieldset aria-required="true">
  <legend>Contact method (choose at least one)</legend>
  <label>
    <input type="checkbox" name="contact" value="email">
    Email notifications
  </label>
  <label>
    <input type="checkbox" name="contact" value="sms">
    SMS notifications
  </label>
</fieldset>

Best Practices for Implementing Required Field Indicators

Effective required field implementation combines visual, programmatic, and contextual indicators:

Visual and Programmatic Indicators

Combine visual cues with programmatic attributes to serve all users.

<!-- Asterisk with proper labeling -->
<label for="first-name">
  First name <span class="required" aria-label="required">*</span>
</label>
<input type="text" id="first-name" name="firstName" required aria-required="true">

<!-- Text-based indicator -->
<label for="last-name">Last name (required)</label>
<input type="text" id="last-name" name="lastName" required aria-required="true">

<!-- Combined approach with styling -->
<label for="phone-number" class="required-field">
  Phone number <span class="required-indicator" aria-label="required">*</span>
</label>
<input type="tel" id="phone-number" name="phone" required aria-required="true">

Form-Level Required Field Explanation

Provide clear explanation of how required fields are marked at the beginning of forms.

<!-- Clear form instructions -->
<form>
  <div class="form-instructions">
    <p>Fields marked with <span class="required-indicator" aria-label="required">*</span> are required.</p>
  </div>
  
  <div class="form-group">
    <label for="company-name">
      Company name <span class="required-indicator" aria-label="required">*</span>
    </label>
    <input type="text" id="company-name" name="companyName" required aria-required="true">
  </div>
  
  <div class="form-group">
    <label for="industry">Industry (optional)</label>
    <select id="industry" name="industry">
      <option value="">Select industry</option>
      <option value="tech">Technology</option>
      <option value="finance">Finance</option>
    </select>
  </div>
  
  <div class="form-group">
    <label for="contact-email">
      Contact email <span class="required-indicator" aria-label="required">*</span>
    </label>
    <input type="email" id="contact-email" name="contactEmail" required aria-required="true">
  </div>
</form>

Group-Level Required Indicators

When groups of fields have requirements, mark the group appropriately.

<!-- Required group with individual optional fields -->
<fieldset class="required-group">
  <legend>
    Contact information 
    <span class="required-indicator" aria-label="required">*</span>
  </legend>
  <p class="group-instructions">At least one contact method is required.</p>
  
  <label for="work-email">Work email (optional)</label>
  <input type="email" id="work-email" name="workEmail">
  
  <label for="work-phone">Work phone (optional)</label>
  <input type="tel" id="work-phone" name="workPhone">
  
  <label for="mobile-phone">Mobile phone (optional)</label>
  <input type="tel" id="mobile-phone" name="mobilePhone">
</fieldset>

<!-- Required choice from radio group -->
<fieldset>
  <legend>
    Preferred contact method 
    <span class="required-indicator" aria-label="required">*</span>
  </legend>
  <label>
    <input type="radio" name="contactMethod" value="email" required>
    Email
  </label>
  <label>
    <input type="radio" name="contactMethod" value="phone" required>
    Phone
  </label>
  <label>
    <input type="radio" name="contactMethod" value="mail" required>
    Postal mail
  </label>
</fieldset>

Common ARIA Required Implementation Mistakes

Avoid these frequent problems that undermine required field accessibility:

Problem: Only Visual Required Indicators

What's happening: Required fields are marked with asterisks or styling but lack programmatic indicators for screen readers.

Simple solution: Always combine visual indicators with ARIA or HTML required attributes:

<!-- Bad: Only visual indicator -->
<label for="email-bad">Email address *</label>
<input type="email" id="email-bad" name="email">

<!-- Good: Visual and programmatic indicators -->
<label for="email-good">
  Email address <span aria-label="required">*</span>
</label>
<input type="email" id="email-good" name="email" required aria-required="true">

Problem: Inconsistent Required Field Marking

What's happening: Some required fields are marked while others aren't, or different marking methods are used inconsistently.

Simple solution: Establish and follow consistent patterns throughout all forms:

<!-- Bad: Inconsistent marking -->
<label for="name-bad">Name *</label>
<input type="text" id="name-bad" required>

<label for="email-bad2">Email address (required)</label>
<input type="email" id="email-bad2" aria-required="true">

<label for="phone-bad">Phone</label>
<input type="tel" id="phone-bad" required>

<!-- Good: Consistent marking -->
<label for="name-good">Name <span aria-label="required">*</span></label>
<input type="text" id="name-good" required aria-required="true">

<label for="email-good2">Email address <span aria-label="required">*</span></label>
<input type="email" id="email-good2" required aria-required="true">

<label for="phone-good">Phone <span aria-label="required">*</span></label>
<input type="tel" id="phone-good" required aria-required="true">

Problem: Using Color Alone to Indicate Requirements

What's happening: Required fields are indicated only through color changes, which isn't accessible to users with color vision deficiencies.

Simple solution: Use multiple indicators including text, symbols, and programmatic attributes:

<!-- Bad: Color only -->
<label for="address-bad" style="color: red;">Address</label>
<input type="text" id="address-bad" required>

<!-- Good: Multiple indicators -->
<label for="address-good" class="required-field">
  Address <span class="required-indicator" aria-label="required">*</span>
</label>
<input type="text" id="address-good" required aria-required="true">

Problem: Incorrect ARIA Required Values

What's happening: Using invalid values for aria-required or inconsistent boolean values.

Simple solution: Use only "true" or "false" values for aria-required:

<!-- Bad: Invalid values -->
<input type="text" id="bad1" aria-required="yes">
<input type="email" id="bad2" aria-required="required">
<input type="tel" id="bad3" aria-required="1">

<!-- Good: Valid boolean values -->
<input type="text" id="good1" aria-required="true">
<input type="email" id="good2" aria-required="true">
<input type="tel" id="good3" aria-required="false">

Testing Your Required Field Implementation

Regular testing ensures your required field indicators work effectively for all users:

  • Screen Reader Testing: Navigate through your forms using only a screen reader to verify that required fields are announced clearly.
  • Keyboard Navigation: Tab through forms to ensure required field indicators are perceivable and make sense in context.
  • Visual Testing: Check that required field indicators are visible and distinguishable under different lighting conditions and for users with color vision deficiencies.
  • Form Submission Testing: Test form validation to ensure required field errors are clear and help users understand what needs to be fixed.
  • Mobile Testing: Verify that required field indicators remain clear and accessible on mobile devices.
  • Automated Testing: Use accessibility tools to identify fields that may be required but lack proper indicators.

The Business Impact of Clear Required Field Indicators

Properly marking required fields delivers significant business benefits:

  • Higher Form Completion Rates: When users understand requirements upfront, they're more likely to complete forms successfully on their first attempt.
  • Reduced Form Abandonment: Clear requirements prevent users from abandoning forms due to confusion about what information is needed.
  • Fewer Validation Errors: Users who understand requirements make fewer mistakes, reducing server load and improving user experience.
  • Better Data Quality: When users know which fields are critical, they tend to provide more complete and accurate information.
  • Decreased Support Requests: Clear form requirements reduce the number of users who need help completing forms or understanding errors.
  • Improved User Satisfaction: Transparent requirements create trust and confidence in your forms and organization.
  • Legal Compliance: Proper required field marking helps meet accessibility requirements in many jurisdictions.

These benefits compound to create forms that serve business objectives more effectively while providing inclusive experiences for all users.

Required Field Patterns Across Different Form Types

Different types of forms require specific approaches to required field indication:

  • Registration forms should clearly mark essential account creation fields while indicating which personal information is optional to build user trust.
  • Checkout forms should distinguish between required billing/shipping information and optional fields like marketing preferences to streamline the purchase process.
  • Contact forms should indicate minimum required information for response while allowing users to provide additional optional details.
  • Job application forms should clearly mark mandatory application requirements while indicating which additional information might be helpful but not required.
  • Survey forms should indicate which questions must be answered for valid participation while allowing optional responses for demographic or feedback questions.
  • Account settings forms should clearly indicate which changes require certain information while allowing optional profile enhancements.

In each case, the key is balancing completeness with user autonomy, making it clear what's essential while respecting users' privacy preferences and time constraints.

Conclusion: Requirements as User Empowerment

Clear required field indicators represent a fundamental principle of respectful user interaction: transparency about expectations. When you clearly communicate what information is required, you empower users to make informed decisions about how to engage with your forms and whether to complete them.

What makes required field indication particularly important is its role in creating equitable form experiences. All users—regardless of their abilities, technologies, or interaction preferences—deserve to understand form requirements before investing time in completion. Hidden or unclear requirements create barriers that disproportionately affect users of assistive technologies.

The practice of properly marking required fields also encourages better form design overall. When you're forced to clearly indicate what information is truly necessary, you naturally question whether each required field serves a genuine purpose, often leading to simpler, more focused forms.

As data collection becomes increasingly important to business success, the investment in clear, accessible required field indicators pays growing dividends. Every properly marked required field is an opportunity to build user trust while ensuring successful form completion for the broadest possible audience.

Ready to make your form requirements crystal clear?

Greadme's easy-to-use tools can help you identify missing or unclear required field indicators on your website and provide simple instructions to make every form requirement accessible to all users—even if you're not technically minded.

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