22. Online Forms

22.1 FIELDSET element grouping related form elements

Guide to this standard

The FIELDSET element is used to group related form elements. The LEGEND attribute of the FIELDSET element is used to caption a set of related form elements and the LABEL element is used to associate controls with their associated label text

Related Standard(s)

3.2 - Use elements to convey document structure and mark up lists properly

7.1 - Associate labels explicitly with their controls

Rationale for this standard

Enhances site accessibility by providing information about form elements which makes them better "known" to assistive technologies.

22.2 Descriptive labels tagged as <label>

Guide to this standard

Every descriptive label must be tagged as <label> and associated with the name of the field.

Rationale for this standard

Enhances site accessibility by enabling a means for assistive technologies to associate without ambiguity to the corresponding field.

22.3 Confirmation of information submitted online

Users receive online confirmation that the information they have submitted has been received, for example by displaying a web page.

Guide to this standard

It is also important that agencies have a process in place to review and respond to any information that has been submitted online. Such information often goes straight into a data store (i.e., database) and is subsequently only reviewed when someone makes access to it.

Rationale for this standard

Users are re-assured that their information has been received. In addition, users have some proof of submission if they subsequently make contact requesting feedback to the submitted information.