HTML · ELEMENT

HTML legend Element: Caption a Fieldset (Radio and Checkbox Groups)

Last reviewed November 4, 2026

The <legend> element is the caption of a `<fieldset>`. It must be the **first child** of the fieldset, or browsers do not treat it as the caption. Screen readers use the legend as the name of the group, so a question like "Preferred contact method" is read out together with each radio button or checkbox inside. By default it sits on the fieldset border, in a gap the browser cuts for it. The legend text is never sent with the form.

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Attributes & common mistakes

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Example HTML (changes re-run the live demo)

<fieldset>
    
    <legend>Preferred contact method</legend>

<input type="radio" id="contact-email" name="contact_method" value="email" checked>
    <label for="contact-email">Email</label>

<input type="radio" id="contact-phone" name="contact_method" value="phone">
    <label for="contact-phone">Phone</label>

<input type="radio" id="contact-sms" name="contact_method" value="sms">
    <label for="contact-sms">Text message</label>
  </fieldset>

/* Make the legend a normal block heading instead of a border notch */
  legend { float: left; width: 100%; padding: 0; font-weight: 600; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; }
  legend + * { clear: both; }
</style>

Runs in a sandbox. Nothing is sent.

Minimal snippet

legend-example.html

<fieldset>
  <legend>Preferred contact method</legend>
  <label><input type="radio" name="contact_method" value="email"> Email</label>
  <label><input type="radio" name="contact_method" value="phone"> Phone</label>
</fieldset>

Copy-paste code

HTML Legend Element code you can paste today.

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legend.html

<form id="contact" action="https://splitforms.com/api/submit" method="POST">
  <input type="hidden" name="access_key" value="YOUR_ACCESS_KEY">

  <label for="name">Name</label>
  <input type="text" id="name" name="name" autocomplete="name" required>

  <fieldset>
    <!-- The legend must be the first child of the fieldset -->
    <legend>Preferred contact method</legend>

    <input type="radio" id="contact-email" name="contact_method" value="email" checked>
    <label for="contact-email">Email</label>

    <input type="radio" id="contact-phone" name="contact_method" value="phone">
    <label for="contact-phone">Phone</label>

    <input type="radio" id="contact-sms" name="contact_method" value="sms">
    <label for="contact-sms">Text message</label>
  </fieldset>

  <button type="submit">Send</button>
  <!-- Sent: name and contact_method=email. The legend text is not sent. -->
</form>

<style>
  /* Reset: remove the default border, padding and min-width */
  fieldset { border: 0; padding: 0; margin: 0; min-width: 0; }

  /* Make the legend a normal block heading instead of a border notch */
  legend { float: left; width: 100%; padding: 0; font-weight: 600; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; }
  legend + * { clear: both; }
</style>

Comparison

When do I use legend, label or aria-labelledby?

Use <fieldset> with <legend> to name a **group** of controls, such as radio buttons or checkboxes that answer one question. Use <label> to name a **single** field. Use role="group" with aria-labelledby only when you cannot use a fieldset, for example inside a layout that a fieldset breaks.

When do I use legend, label or aria-labelledby?
Need	Use	Example
Name one input	`<label for>`	Email address field
Name a radio group	`<fieldset>` + `<legend>`	Preferred contact method: Email / Phone / Text
Name a checkbox group	`<fieldset>` + `<legend>`	Topics you want: News / Offers / Updates
Name a group without a fieldset	`role="group"` + `aria-labelledby`	A custom grid of toggles
Name a custom radio group widget	`role="radiogroup"` + `aria-labelledby`	Star rating built from buttons

Sources: WHATWG HTML Standard: The legend element · W3C WAI: Grouping controls

Attributes · <legend>

Which attributes does the legend element support?

Only global attributes such as id and class. The legend gets its meaning from its place as the first child of a <fieldset>.

HTML Legend Element attributes and what each one does
Attribute	What it does	Docs
`align`	Obsolete. `<legend>` has no attributes of its own besides global ones such as `id` and `class`; position and style it with CSS instead.	MDN
`<fieldset disabled>`	Set on the parent fieldset, it disables every control inside so none are sent. The legend still shows, and controls inside the legend stay enabled.	MDN

Common mistakes

HTML legend mistakes to avoid

Putting it in the wrong place, making it too long, and expecting it in the form data.

It must be the first child of the fieldset
If any element comes before it, or it is wrapped in a <div>, the browser does not use it as the caption: it loses the border notch and screen readers do not read it as the group name.
Keep the legend short
Some screen readers (for example JAWS) repeat the legend before every radio button or checkbox in the group. Write a short question such as "Preferred contact method" and put longer help text in a paragraph linked with aria-describedby.
The legend text is not submitted
Only named controls are sent. With the example above the POST body has contact_method=email, never the words "Preferred contact method". Give each radio a clear value so the server knows what was picked.
Styling it is awkward by default
The legend sits on the fieldset border in a gap the browser cuts for it, and many CSS rules behave oddly there. legend { float: left; width: 100%; padding: 0; } with legend + * { clear: both; } turns it into a normal heading, and fieldset { border: 0; padding: 0; margin: 0; min-width: 0; } resets the box.
A disabled fieldset still shows its legend
<fieldset disabled> disables every control inside, so none of them are sent, but the legend stays visible and readable. Controls inside the legend itself stay enabled.

Sources: WHATWG HTML Standard: The legend element · MDN: <legend> · W3C WAI: Grouping controls

Copy-paste ready

The HTML Legend Element example below is a complete, working form — paste it into any HTML page and it submits, no edits to the markup required.

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Unlike a static reference snippet, this <legend> form actually sends data to a free splitforms backend, with spam filtering built in.

How it works

How to add HTML Legend Element to any page.

Copy the html legend element example, drop in your free access key, and paste it into any page — submissions start landing in your dashboard.

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Copy the HTML Legend Element example below.

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Questions

HTML Legend Element questions, answered.

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What is the legend tag used for in HTML?

It gives a caption to a <fieldset>. The legend names the group of controls, such as "Preferred contact method" above three radio buttons, and screen readers read it as the group name.

Does the legend have to be the first element in a fieldset?

Yes. The legend must be the first child of the fieldset. If another element comes first, browsers do not treat it as the caption and screen readers do not announce it as the group name.

How do I label a group of radio buttons accessibly?

Wrap the radios in a <fieldset>, put the question in a <legend> as its first child, give every radio the same name, and give each radio its own <label>. Use role="radiogroup" with aria-labelledby only when a fieldset is not possible.

How do I remove the fieldset border and style the legend like a heading?

Reset the fieldset with border: 0; padding: 0; margin: 0; min-width: 0; then give the legend float: left; width: 100%; padding: 0; and add legend + * { clear: both; } so the next element starts below it.

Is the legend text sent when the form is submitted?

No. Only named form controls are submitted. The legend is a caption, so the server only receives values such as contact_method=email.

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