Label

Label captions a form control so clicking the text focuses the control and assistive tech announces its accessible name. It's the connective tissue of every form: Input, Select, Checkbox, Radio, Switch, and Textarea all expect one. It is not a general text style — for section titles use a heading, for help text use a description element.

Associate every label with its control. Use htmlFor/id (or wrap the control) so the link is real, not just visual proximity — that's what makes the text a click target and gives the field its name. An unassociated label is invisible to screen readers.

Keep labels short, persistent, and in sentence case. A few words naming the field, always visible — don't rely on a placeholder that disappears on focus. Mark optionality explicitly ("(optional)") rather than assuming required-by-default.

Don't borrow the label for styling. If you want bold body text or a section heading, use the right element; a stray <label> with no control is an accessibility smell. Put requirements and examples in a separate description, not baked into the label.