Axe rule guides
labelcritical

Fix label axe errors

A form control has no programmatic label, so assistive technology cannot announce what input is expected.

Affected users

Screen reader users, speech-input users, and people who rely on larger click targets.

WCAG mapping

1.3.1 Info and Relationships (A); 3.3.2 Labels or Instructions (A); 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value (A)

Detection

wcagc reports unlabeled controls and keeps the finding separate from manual checks such as instruction quality.

Failing markup

<input id="email" type="email">

Fixed code

<label for="email">Email</label>
<input id="email" type="email" autocomplete="email">

Sources and standards

FAQ

Is placeholder text enough?

No. Placeholders disappear and are not a reliable accessible name. Use a visible label or an equivalent programmatic label.

Can aria-label fix this?

It can, but visible labels are usually better. Use aria-label when a visible label is not possible.

Scan the rest of the page

One rule rarely travels alone

Run a page through wcagc to find this rule, related WCAG issues, affected selectors, and manual checks that automation cannot judge.

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