Writing Accessible Switch Labels
Writing Accessible Switch Labels is a distinct APG-supported rule because switch names stay stable across state changes, unlike action labels that may appropriately change on other control patterns.
Label a switch with the setting it controls and do not change that label when the state changes.
Key details
Important caveats
Scope Boundary
This page covers switch-label wording; aria-checked, keyboard interaction, and visual state indicators are implementation concerns.
Further guidance
Content
Name the setting or feature controlled by the switch, and keep that label stable while the on/off state changes separately.
Purpose
A stable switch label lets users perceive one control whose state changes instead of hearing what sounds like two different controls.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Switch Pattern — WAI-ARIA Authoring Practices Guide (opens in a new tab)World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) · W3C APG guidance that a switch label must not change when the switch state changes.