Field labels are the first thing users notice on forms. How you align them with your text fields affects cognitive load. I've shown that top-aligned labels incur a higher cognitive load than infield top-aligned labels.
Stronger label-to-field relationship
Fewer eye fixations when scanning
Easier to distinguish error/help messages
Faster to complete overall
However, I've noticed there are still many designers who still use top-aligned labels. Have you switched to infield top-aligned labels yet? Why or why not?
I'm open to trying the in-field labels, but they do rely on a stronger visual distinction between the label and field contents since the input border is no longer a clear delimiter.
In-field labels can also create the illusion of a "filled" input when it is actually empty. This is exacerbated by designs where the in-field label moves into a "placeholder" position/size when the field is empty.
If something is NOT broken, don't fix it. This applies to the problem in question. Top aligned labels are a norm, good for accessibility as well. I don't see a strong reasons in the rationales you've provided to change the user behaviour.
I haven't updated my existing designs yet, but I'm sold on the change.
I'm still not totally sure how best to go about including descriptions and error states with the infield labels, though—historically I've structured my fields (with outfield labels) as follows:
Label
Description
[ Field without placeholder text ]
Error icon + message (if any)
For example:
Full Name
E.g., Steve Jobs
[ 12345 ]
⚠️ Your name must contain at least 1 letter
It's certainly more fatiguing on the eye compared to infield top-aligned labels when all elements are present, but with infield top-aligned labels, I feel I have to make a tradeoff when including the same information: Either leave error states and/or descriptions outside the field and risk losing their visual association with the field, or bring them into the field and lose the clarity of the blank space representing the interactive area of the field itself. Is there an ideal approach here?
What happens when you need hint text for the field? Where does the error go? Perhaps in short forms of about 4 fields or so it works well but I don't think its flexible enough for every use case.
I'll offer that the design systems I have worked in are only as simple as the most complex form. So when adding in input descriptions (some of which may be long and have their own summary/detail expanders) and errors/validation messages, the visual hierarchy of the infield form label becomes challenging.
(for context, I work on government forms which have all sorts of statutory complexity. Also developer tools, which have their own weird widgets.)
interesting subject. Unfortunately on the UI I'm currently working on we're forced to have labels on the left of the widgets they belong to, for space reasons: it'd be great to have an article on that as well. Should the label column be left aligned or right aligned, for example? Since it's a desktop app we're talking about, what if the UI gets scaled horizontally? Wouldn't left aligned labels get too far away from the widgets they belong to?
Any suggestions for creating something like this with in-field or another alternative? If I have an in-field text input what would be the placement for a button next to that input?
The government project I'm supporting uses the USWDS style guide and component library, which has not yet moved forward to more modern, proven improvements like this. Hopefully soon.
Could someone share a link (or links) to the other articles discussing this issue? I'm not turning them up by searching the archive and I'd like to learn more about the research and thinking here.
Top-Aligned vs Infield Top-Aligned Labels
I'm open to trying the in-field labels, but they do rely on a stronger visual distinction between the label and field contents since the input border is no longer a clear delimiter.
In-field labels can also create the illusion of a "filled" input when it is actually empty. This is exacerbated by designs where the in-field label moves into a "placeholder" position/size when the field is empty.
How do you test these changes, live environment or user interviews? What tool do you use for eye fixations?
You didn't provide an example of an error/help message. How is the infield labeling help with error/help messages?
I’m curious...How accessible are infield labels? Can screen readers read them?
If something is NOT broken, don't fix it. This applies to the problem in question. Top aligned labels are a norm, good for accessibility as well. I don't see a strong reasons in the rationales you've provided to change the user behaviour.
I haven't updated my existing designs yet, but I'm sold on the change.
I'm still not totally sure how best to go about including descriptions and error states with the infield labels, though—historically I've structured my fields (with outfield labels) as follows:
Label
Description
[ Field without placeholder text ]
Error icon + message (if any)
For example:
Full Name
E.g., Steve Jobs
[ 12345 ]
⚠️ Your name must contain at least 1 letter
It's certainly more fatiguing on the eye compared to infield top-aligned labels when all elements are present, but with infield top-aligned labels, I feel I have to make a tradeoff when including the same information: Either leave error states and/or descriptions outside the field and risk losing their visual association with the field, or bring them into the field and lose the clarity of the blank space representing the interactive area of the field itself. Is there an ideal approach here?
I would like to see otheres opinion, when it comes to filter section.
Is it available on Filter section?
Not that I disagree with you or what you're saying is wrong, but how can you substantiate these claims:
"I've shown that top-aligned labels incur a higher cognitive load than infield top-aligned labels.
• Stronger label-to-field relationship
• Fewer eye fixations when scanning
• Easier to distinguish error/help messages
• Faster to complete overall
Aren't advantages of top align labels:
- the form is less daunting because it looks less busy
- it's immediately obvious what is filled out and what is not
What happens when you need hint text for the field? Where does the error go? Perhaps in short forms of about 4 fields or so it works well but I don't think its flexible enough for every use case.
I'll offer that the design systems I have worked in are only as simple as the most complex form. So when adding in input descriptions (some of which may be long and have their own summary/detail expanders) and errors/validation messages, the visual hierarchy of the infield form label becomes challenging.
(for context, I work on government forms which have all sorts of statutory complexity. Also developer tools, which have their own weird widgets.)
interesting subject. Unfortunately on the UI I'm currently working on we're forced to have labels on the left of the widgets they belong to, for space reasons: it'd be great to have an article on that as well. Should the label column be left aligned or right aligned, for example? Since it's a desktop app we're talking about, what if the UI gets scaled horizontally? Wouldn't left aligned labels get too far away from the widgets they belong to?
I am having trouble finding an example with the in-field input but with a button addon or button trailing. For example: https://getbootstrap.com/docs/4.0/components/input-group/#button-addons
Any suggestions for creating something like this with in-field or another alternative? If I have an in-field text input what would be the placement for a button next to that input?
So both cases are beautiful, but in the one on the right, where do you place the arrow, at the bottom, in the center?
What about other form components such as Dropdown and checkbox list? Do you also inclused them in the box?
The government project I'm supporting uses the USWDS style guide and component library, which has not yet moved forward to more modern, proven improvements like this. Hopefully soon.
Could someone share a link (or links) to the other articles discussing this issue? I'm not turning them up by searching the archive and I'd like to learn more about the research and thinking here.
Made the switch to infield Top-Aligned Labels after coming across your articles 👍🏼👌🏼❤️