Properly position implicit labels in forms |
WAI / WCAG 1.0 Priority 2 checkpoint 10.2
Issue Description The page contains forms with controls. If the labels of these controls are not properly positioned, (to the left or on the top of the control), then the page fails to satisfy this checkpoint.
How to check Ensure that the labels for the fields and controls do exist, and are positioned to the left or on the top of the control to which they refer. Be aware of the potential problems that might arise when using tables to layout the content of the form.
Issue Explanation Consider that not all visitors can get a bi-dimensional view of the form, and they might not be able to take advantage of visual clues that have been added to the graphical design of the form (like vertical alignment of controls, or little boxes that act as a frame for a number of controls, or different background colors).

This may happen because the visitor uses a different media to experience the form (like via audio rendering of the form), because the visitor uses a screen magnifier that shows only a very limited portion of the form, or because the visitor uses a very small, black and white PDA screen.

In all of these cases the visitors are likely to miss the intended meaning of a field or control, and might be unable to figure out what they should type or do.