Form elements - Hint text
Use hint text to help users understand a question.
How to use hint text
Use hint text to give users help in context - like where to find information or how their data will be used.
Text input with hint text
<div class="nhsuk-form-group">
<label class="nhsuk-label" for="example-with-hint-text">
What is your NHS number?
</label>
<div class="nhsuk-hint" id="example-with-hint-text-hint">
Your NHS number is a 10 digit number that you find on any letter the NHS has sent you. For example, 485 777 3456.
</div>
<input class="nhsuk-input nhsuk-input--width-10" id="example-with-hint-text" name="example-with-hint-text" type="text" aria-describedby="example-with-hint-text-hint" inputmode="numeric">
</div>
Close
{% from 'input/macro.njk' import input %}
{{ input({
"label": {
"text": "What is your NHS number?"
},
"hint": {
"text": "Your NHS number is a 10 digit number that you find on any letter the NHS has sent you. For example, 485 777 3456."
},
id: "example-with-hint-text",
name: "example-with-hint-text",
classes: "nhsuk-input--width-10",
inputmode: "numeric"
}) }}
Close
Radios with hint text
<fieldset class="nhsuk-fieldset">
<legend class="nhsuk-fieldset__legend nhsuk-fieldset__legend--l">
<h1 class="nhsuk-fieldset__heading">
Do you know your NHS number?
</h1>
</legend>
<div class="nhsuk-hint nhsuk-u-margin-bottom-2">
This is a 10 digit number, like 485 777 3456.
</div>
<div class="nhsuk-hint">
You can find it on any letter the NHS has sent you, on a prescription or by logging in to a GP practice online service.
</div>
<div class="nhsuk-form-group">
<div class="nhsuk-radios">
<div class="nhsuk-radios__item">
<input class="nhsuk-radios__input" id="example-hints-1" name="example-hints" type="radio" value="yes">
<label class="nhsuk-label nhsuk-radios__label" for="example-hints-1">
Yes, I know my NHS number
</label>
</div>
<div class="nhsuk-radios__item">
<input class="nhsuk-radios__input" id="example-hints-2" name="example-hints" type="radio" value="no">
<label class="nhsuk-label nhsuk-radios__label" for="example-hints-2">
No, I do not know my NHS number
</label>
</div>
<div class="nhsuk-radios__item">
<input class="nhsuk-radios__input" id="example-hints-3" name="example-hints" type="radio" value="not sure">
<label class="nhsuk-label nhsuk-radios__label" for="example-hints-3">
I'm not sure
</label>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</fieldset>
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{% from 'radios/macro.njk' import radios %}
{% from 'fieldset/macro.njk' import fieldset %}
{% from 'hint/macro.njk' import hint %}
{% call fieldset({
legend: {
"text": "Do you know your NHS number?",
"classes": "nhsuk-fieldset__legend--l",
"isPageHeading": true
}
}) %}
{{ hint({
"text": "This is a 10 digit number, like 485 777 3456.",
"classes": "nhsuk-u-margin-bottom-2"
}) }}
{{ hint({
"text": "You can find it on any letter the NHS has sent you, on a prescription or by logging in to a GP practice online service."
}) }}
{{ radios({
"idPrefix": "example-hints",
"name": "example-hints",
"items": [
{
"value": "yes",
"text": "Yes, I know my NHS number"
},
{
"value": "no",
"text": "No, I do not know my NHS number"
},
{
"value": "not sure",
"text": "I'm not sure"
}
]
}) }}
{% endcall %}
Close
Radio items with hints
You can add hints to radios to give more information about the options.
<div class="nhsuk-form-group">
<fieldset class="nhsuk-fieldset">
<legend class="nhsuk-fieldset__legend nhsuk-fieldset__legend--l">
<h1 class="nhsuk-fieldset__heading">
How do you want to sign in?
</h1>
</legend>
<div class="nhsuk-radios">
<div class="nhsuk-radios__item">
<input class="nhsuk-radios__input" id="example-hints-1" name="example-hints" type="radio" value="gateway" aria-describedby="example-hints-1-item-hint">
<label class="nhsuk-label nhsuk-radios__label" for="example-hints-1">
Sign in with NHS login
</label>
<div class="nhsuk-hint nhsuk-radios__hint" id="example-hints-1-item-hint">
You'll have a user ID if you've registered for the NHS App.
</div>
</div>
<div class="nhsuk-radios__item">
<input class="nhsuk-radios__input" id="example-hints-2" name="example-hints" type="radio" value="verify" aria-describedby="example-hints-2-item-hint">
<label class="nhsuk-label nhsuk-radios__label" for="example-hints-2">
Sign in with GOV.UK Verify
</label>
<div class="nhsuk-hint nhsuk-radios__hint" id="example-hints-2-item-hint">
You'll have an account if you've already proved your identity with either Barclays, CitizenSafe, Digidentity, Experian, Post Office, Royal Mail or SecureIdentity.
</div>
</div>
</div>
</fieldset>
</div>
Close
{% from 'radios/macro.njk' import radios %}
{{ radios({
"idPrefix": "example-hints",
"name": "example-hints",
"fieldset": {
"legend": {
"text": "How do you want to sign in?",
"classes": "nhsuk-fieldset__legend--l",
"isPageHeading": true
}
},
"items": [
{
"value": "gateway",
"text": "Sign in with NHS login",
"hint": {
"text": "You'll have a user ID if you've registered for the NHS App."
}
},
{
"value": "verify",
"text": "Sign in with GOV.UK Verify",
"hint": {
"text": "You'll have an account if you've already proved your identity with either Barclays, CitizenSafe, Digidentity, Experian, Post Office, Royal Mail or SecureIdentity."
}
}
]
}) }}
Close
Checkboxes with hint text
Unlike with radios, users can select more than 1 option from a list of checkboxes. Do not assume that users will know how many options they can select.
<div class="nhsuk-form-group">
<fieldset class="nhsuk-fieldset" aria-describedby="contact-hint">
<legend class="nhsuk-fieldset__legend nhsuk-fieldset__legend--l">
<h1 class="nhsuk-fieldset__heading">
How would you like to be contacted?
</h1>
</legend>
<div class="nhsuk-hint" id="contact-hint">
Select all options that are relevant to you.
</div>
<div class="nhsuk-checkboxes">
<div class="nhsuk-checkboxes__item">
<input class="nhsuk-checkboxes__input" id="contact" name="contact" type="checkbox" value="email">
<label class="nhsuk-label nhsuk-checkboxes__label" for="contact">
Email
</label>
</div>
<div class="nhsuk-checkboxes__item">
<input class="nhsuk-checkboxes__input" id="contact-2" name="contact" type="checkbox" value="phone">
<label class="nhsuk-label nhsuk-checkboxes__label" for="contact-2">
Phone
</label>
</div>
<div class="nhsuk-checkboxes__item">
<input class="nhsuk-checkboxes__input" id="contact-3" name="contact" type="checkbox" value="text message">
<label class="nhsuk-label nhsuk-checkboxes__label" for="contact-3">
Text message
</label>
</div>
</div>
</fieldset>
</div>
Close
{% from 'checkboxes/macro.njk' import checkboxes %}
{{ checkboxes({
"idPrefix": "contact",
"name": "contact",
"fieldset": {
"legend": {
"text": "How would you like to be contacted?",
"classes": "nhsuk-fieldset__legend--l",
isPageHeading: true
}
},
"hint": {
"text": "Select all options that are relevant to you."
},
"items": [
{
"value": "email",
"text": "Email",
id: "contact"
},
{
"value": "phone",
"text": "Phone"
},
{
"value": "text message",
"text": "Text message"
}
]
}) }}
Close
Textarea with hint text
<div class="nhsuk-form-group">
<label class="nhsuk-label" for="example">
Can you provide more detail?
</label>
<div class="nhsuk-hint" id="example-hint">
Do not include personal or financial information, for example, your National Insurance number or credit card details.
</div>
<textarea class="nhsuk-textarea" id="example" name="example" rows="5" aria-describedby="example-hint"></textarea>
</div>
Close
{% from 'textarea/macro.njk' import textarea %}
{{ textarea({
"name": "example",
"id": "example",
"label": {
"text": "Can you provide more detail?"
},
"hint": {
"text": "Do not include personal or financial information, for example, your National Insurance number or credit card details."
}
}) }}
Close
Have you tested this component?
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Updated: January 2020