HTML attribute: required
The Boolean required
attribute, if present, indicates that the user must specify a value for the input before the owning form can be submitted.
The required
attribute is supported by text
, search
, url
, tel
, email
, password
, date
, month
, week
, time
, datetime-local
, number
, checkbox
, radio
, file
, <input>
types along with the <select>
and <textarea>
form control elements. If present on any of these input types and elements, the :required
pseudo class will match. If the attribute is not included, the :optional
pseudo class will match.
The attribute is not supported or relevant to range and color, as both have default values. It is also not supported on hidden as it can not be expected that a user to fill out a form that is hidden. Nor is it supported on any of the button types, including image
.
Note color
and range
don't support required
as both always have a value. Type color
defaults to #000000
. The default for range
is the midpoint between min
and max
— with min
and max
defaulting to 0 and 100 respectively in most browsers if not declared.
In the case of a same named group of radio buttons, if a single radio button in the group has the required
attribute, a radio button in that group must be checked, although it doesn't have to be the one on which the attribute is applied. To improve code maintenance, it is recommended to either include the required
attribute in every same-named radio button in the group, or else in none.
In the case of a same named group of checkbox input types, only the checkboxes with the required
attribute are required.
Note: Setting aria-required="true"
tells a screen reader that an element (any element) is required, but has no bearing on the optionality of the element.
Attribute interactions
Because a read-only field cannot have a value, required
does not have any effect on inputs with the readonly
attribute also specified.
Usability
When including the required
attribute, provide a visible indication near the control informing the user that the <input>
, <select>
or <textarea>
is required. In addition, target required form controls with the :required
pseudo-class, styling them in a way to indicate they are required. This improves usability for sighted users. Assistive technology should inform the user that the form control is mandatory based on the required attribute, but adding aria-required="true"
doesn't hurt, in case the browser / screen reader combination does not support required
yet.
Constraint validation
If the element is required and the element's value is the empty string, then the element is suffering from valueMissing
and the element will match the :invalid
pseudo class.
Accessibility concerns
Provide an indication to users informing them the form control is required. Ensure the messaging is multi-faceted, such as through text, color, markings, and attribute, so that all users understand the requirements whether they have color blindness, cognitive differences, or are using a screen reader.
Example
HTML
html
<form>
<div class="group">
<input type="text" />
<label>Normal</label>
</div>
<div class="group">
<input type="text" required />
<label>Required</label>
</div>
<input type="submit" />
</form>
Result
Specifications
No specification found
No specification data found for html.elements.attributes.required
.
Check for problems with this page or contribute a missing spec_url
to mdn/browser-compat-data. Also make sure the specification is included in w3c/browser-specs.
Browser compatibility
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