A check box, selection box, or tick box is a small interactive box that can be toggled by the user to indicate an affirmative or negative choice. It is frequently found in HTML input forms, dialog boxes, and in the GUIs of applications and operating systems.

When clicked, a check mark (✓) appears inside the box, to indicate an affirmative choice (yes). When clicked again, the check mark disappears, indicating a negative choice (no).

Check boxes are used when more than one option may need to be checked or as an easy way to enable or disable a setting in a software program. Checking the box enables that setting, and unchecking disables it.

Check box example

Below is an interactive example of multiple check boxs. To select a check box or place a check in the check box with a computer mouse, click the check box with left mouse button. To check a check box with a touch screen, tap your finger on the check box. If a box is checked, it can be unchecked by clicking or tapping the box again.

  • Check box example.
  • How to create a check box on my HTML web page.
  • How to place a check in a check box using a keyboard?
  • Difference between check box and a radio button.
  • Should I use “checkbox” or “check box” in my writing?
  • Related information.

How to place a check in a check box using a keyboard?

To check a check box with the keyboard, press Tab until the check box is highlighted, and then press the spacebar to check or uncheck the box. You can try this now in the check boxes below.

Check box 1 Check box 2 Check box 3 Check box 4 Check box 5

If you’re using a smartphone or tablet, the small size of the screen can make it difficult to tap a check box. On these devices, you can zoom in on the screen to enlarge the check box, making it easier to tap. To zoom in, pinch with your fingers, using an outward motion.

Depending on your browser and device, the check box mark may be a check mark, X, or a solid box to indicate it’s selected.

How to create a check box on my HTML web page

To create a check box on a web page, use the tag as shown below. The code below is from the example above that created the check box followed by the “Check box 1” text.

Check box 1 Check box 2 Check box 3

If pressing Tab does not immediately select the boxes above in your browser, you need to keep pressing Tab until they’re selected. Alternatively, you could first click the box with your mouse and then press the spacebar to uncheck and check the box.

Check box 1

To perform an action based on the checked boxes, it must be included in a

tag that’s submitted as part of the form. When submitted, it’s sent to a Perl, PHP, Python, or another script language that grabs what check box was checked and performs the necessary action.

Difference between check box and a radio button

A check box is always a square box and allows for one or more items to be selected. A radio button is a circle that only allows for one option to be selected. If you’re creating a list that needs multiple options selected, use check boxes. If you want only one option to be selected and prevent multiple options from being selected, use a radio button.

Should I use “checkbox” or “check box” in my writing?

Both forms are correct, and its usage depends on the style guide you’re following. When describing a selectable box or object, we follow the Microsoft Manual of Style and write “check box” as two words in all our writing. When describing an attribute value, such as the “checkbox” value in an HTML input tag, it should be one word.

Check, Internet terms, List box, Push button, Radio button, Software terms

According to Google Trends, “checkbox” is used more than “check box.”

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