# Form Checkbox Inputs

> For cross browser consistency, `<b-form-checkbox-group>` and `<b-form-checkbox>` use Bootstrap's
> custom checkbox input to replace the browser default checkbox input. It is built on top of
> semantic and accessible markup, so it is a solid replacement for the default checkbox input.

**Example 1:** Single checkbox

```html
<template>
  <div>
    <b-form-checkbox
      id="checkbox-1"
      v-model="status"
      name="checkbox-1"
      value="accepted"
      unchecked-value="not_accepted"
    >
      I accept the terms and use
    </b-form-checkbox>

    <div>State: <strong>{{ status }}</strong></div>
  </div>
</template>

<script>
  export default {
    data() {
      return {
        status: 'not_accepted'
      }
    }
  }
</script>

<!-- b-form-checkbox.vue -->
```

**Example 2:** Multiple choice checkboxes

```html
<template>
  <div>
    <b-form-group label="Using options array:">
      <b-form-checkbox-group
        id="checkbox-group-1"
        v-model="selected"
        :options="options"
        name="flavour-1"
      ></b-form-checkbox-group>
    </b-form-group>

    <b-form-group label="Using sub-components:">
      <b-form-checkbox-group id="checkbox-group-2" v-model="selected" name="flavour-2">
        <b-form-checkbox value="orange">Orange</b-form-checkbox>
        <b-form-checkbox value="apple">Apple</b-form-checkbox>
        <b-form-checkbox value="pineapple">Pineapple</b-form-checkbox>
        <b-form-checkbox value="grape">Grape</b-form-checkbox>
      </b-form-checkbox-group>
    </b-form-group>

    <div>Selected: <strong>{{ selected }}</strong></div>
  </div>
</template>

<script>
  export default {
    data() {
      return {
        selected: [], // Must be an array reference!
        options: [
          { text: 'Orange', value: 'orange' },
          { text: 'Apple', value: 'apple' },
          { text: 'Pineapple', value: 'pineapple' },
          { text: 'Grape', value: 'grape' }
        ]
      }
    }
  }
</script>

<!-- b-form-checkbox-multiple.vue -->
```

Feel free to mix and match `options` prop and `<b-form-checkbox>` in `<b-form-checkbox-group>`.
Manually placed `<b-form-checkbox>` inputs will appear _below_ any checkbox inputs generated by the
`options` prop. To have them appear _above_ the inputs generated by `options`, place them in the
named slot `first`.

## Checkbox group options array

`options` can be an array of strings or objects. Available fields:

- **`value`** The selected value which will be set on `v-model`
- **`disabled`** Disables item for selection
- **`text`** Display text, or **`html`** Display basic inline html

`value` can be a string, number, or simple object. Avoid using complex types in values.

If both `html` and `text` are provided, `html` will take precedence. Only basic/native HTML is
supported in the `html` field (components will not work). Note that not all browsers will render
inline html (i.e. `<i>`, `<strong>`, etc.) inside `<option>` elements of a `<select>`.

<p class="alert alert-danger">
  <strong>Be cautious</strong> of placing user supplied content in the <code>html</code> field,
  as it may make you vulnerable to
  <a class="alert-link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross-site_scripting">
  <abbr title="Cross Site Scripting Attacks">XSS attacks</abbr></a>, if you do not first
  <a class="alert-link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTML_sanitization">sanitize</a> the
  user supplied string.
</p>

<!-- eslint-disable no-unused-vars -->

```js
const options = ['A', 'B', 'C', { text: 'D', value: { d: 1 }, disabled: true }, 'E', 'F']
```

If an array entry is a string, it will be used for both the generated `value` and `text` fields.

You can mix using strings and [objects](#options-as-an-array-of-objects) in the array.

Internally, BootstrapVue will convert the above array to the following array (the
[array of objects](#options-as-an-array-of-objects)) format:

<!-- eslint-disable no-unused-vars -->

```js
const options = [
  { text: 'A', value: 'A', disabled: false },
  { text: 'B', value: 'B', disabled: false },
  { text: 'C', value: 'C', disabled: false },
  { text: 'D', value: { d: 1 }, disabled: true },
  { text: 'E', value: 'E', disabled: false },
  { text: 'F', value: 'F', disabled: false }
]
```

### Options as an array of objects

<!-- eslint-disable no-unused-vars -->

```js
const options = [
  { text: 'Item 1', value: 'first' },
  { text: 'Item 2', value: 'second' },
  { html: '<b>Item</b> 3', value: 'third', disabled: true },
  { text: 'Item 4' },
  { text: 'Item 5', value: { foo: 'bar', baz: true } }
]
```

If `value` is missing, then `text` will be used as both the `value` and `text` fields. If you use
the `html` property, you **must** supply a `value` property.

Internally, BootstrapVue will convert the above array to the following array (the
[array of objects](#options-as-an-array-of-objects)) format:

<!-- eslint-disable no-unused-vars -->

```js
const options = [
  { text: 'Item 1', value: 'first', disabled: false },
  { text: 'Item 2', value: 'second', disabled: false },
  { html: '<b>Item</b> 3', value: 'third', disabled: true },
  { text: 'Item 4', value: 'Item 4', disabled: false },
  { text: 'Item 5', value: 'E', disabled: false }
]
```

### Changing the option field names

If you want to customize the field property names (for example using `name` field for display
`text`) you can easily change them by setting the `text-field`, `html-field`, `value-field`, and
`disabled-field` props to a string that contains the property name you would like to use:

```html
<template>
  <div>
    <b-form-checkbox-group
      v-model="selected"
      :options="options"
      class="mb-3"
      value-field="item"
      text-field="name"
      disabled-field="notEnabled"
    ></b-form-checkbox-group>
    <div class="mt-3">Selected: <strong>{{ selected }}</strong></div>
  </div>
</template>

<script>
  export default {
    data() {
      return {
        selected: [],
        options: [
          { item: 'A', name: 'Option A' },
          { item: 'B', name: 'Option B' },
          { item: 'D', name: 'Option C', notEnabled: true },
          { item: { d: 1 }, name: 'Option D' }
        ]
      }
    }
  }
</script>

<!-- b-form-checkbox-group-options-fields.vue -->
```

## Inline and stacked checkboxes

`<b-form-checkbox-group>` components render inline checkboxes by default, while `<b-form-checkbox>`
renders block-level (stacked) checkboxes.

Set the prop `stacked` on `<b-form-checkbox-group>` to place each form control one over the other,
or if using individual checkboxes not inside a `<b-form-checkbox-group>`, set the `inline` prop on
`<b-form-checkbox>`.

```html
<template>
  <div>
    <b-form-group label="Form-checkbox-group inline checkboxes (default)">
      <b-form-checkbox-group
        v-model="selected"
        :options="options"
        name="flavour-1a"
      ></b-form-checkbox-group>
    </b-form-group>

    <b-form-group label="Form-checkbox-group stacked checkboxes">
      <b-form-checkbox-group
        v-model="selected"
        :options="options"
        name="flavour-2a"
        stacked
      ></b-form-checkbox-group>
    </b-form-group>

    <b-form-group label="Individual stacked checkboxes (default)">
      <b-form-checkbox
        v-for="option in options"
        v-model="selected"
        :key="option.value"
        :value="option.value"
        name="flavour-3a"
      >
        {{ option.text }}
      </b-form-checkbox>
    </b-form-group>

    <b-form-group label="Individual inline checkboxes">
      <b-form-checkbox
        v-for="option in options"
        v-model="selected"
        :key="option.value"
        :value="option.value"
        name="flavour-4a"
        inline
      >
        {{ option.text }}
      </b-form-checkbox>
    </b-form-group>
  </div>
</template>

<script>
  export default {
    data() {
      return {
        selected: [], // Must be an array reference!
        options: [
          { text: 'Orange', value: 'orange' },
          { text: 'Apple', value: 'apple' },
          { text: 'Pineapple', value: 'pineapple' },
          { text: 'Grape', value: 'grape' }
        ]
      }
    }
  }
</script>

<!-- b-form-checkbox-stacked.vue -->
```

## Control sizing

Use the `size` prop to control the size of the checkbox. The default size is medium. Supported size
values are `sm` (small) and `lg` (large).

```html
<div>
  <b-form-checkbox size="sm">Small</b-form-checkbox>
  <b-form-checkbox>Default</b-form-checkbox>
  <b-form-checkbox size="lg">Large</b-form-checkbox>
</div>

<!-- form-checkbox-sizes.vue -->
```

Sizes can be set on individual `<b-form-checkbox>` components, or inherited from the size setting of
`<b-form-checkbox-group>`.

**Note:** Bootstrap v4.x does not natively support sizes for the custom checkbox control. However,
BootstrapVue includes custom SCSS/CSS that adds support for sizing the custom checkboxes.

## Checkbox values and `v-model`

By default, `<b-form-checkbox>` value will be `true` when checked and `false` when unchecked. You
can customize the checked and unchecked values by specifying the `value` and `unchecked-value`
properties, respectively.

The `v-model` binds to the `checked` prop. When you have multiple checkboxes that bind to a single
data state variable, you **must** provide an array reference (`[]`) to your `v-model`. Do not use
the `checked` prop directly.

Note that when `v-model` is bound to multiple checkboxes (i.e an array ref), the `unchecked-value`
is **not used**. Only the value(s) of the checked checkboxes will be returned in the `v-model` bound
array. You should provide a unique value for each checkbox's `value` prop (the default of `true`
will not work when bound to an array)

To pre-check any radios, set the `v-model` to the value(s) of the checks that you would like
pre-selected.

When placing individual `<b-form-checkbox>` components within a `<b-form-checkbox-group>`, most
props and the `v-model` are inherited from the `<b-form-checkbox-group>`.

**Note:** the `unchecked-value` prop _does not_ affect the native `<input>`'s `value` attribute,
because browsers don't include unchecked boxes in form submissions. To guarantee that one of two
values is submitted in a native `<form>` submit (e.g. `'yes'` or `'no'`), use radio inputs instead.
This is the same limitation that
[Vue has with native checkbox inputs](https://vuejs.org/v2/guide/forms.html#Checkbox-1).

### Multiple checkboxes and accessibility

When binding multiple checkboxes together, you must set the `name` prop to the same value for all
`<b-form-checkbox>`s in the group individually or via the `name` prop of `<b-form-checkbox-group>`.
This will inform users of assistive technologies that the checkboxes are related and enables native
browser keyboard navigation.

Whenever using multiple checkboxes, it is recommended that the checkboxes be placed in a
[`<b-form-group>`](/docs/components/form-group) component to associate a label with the entire group
of checkboxes. See examples above.

## Button style checkboxes

You can optionally render checkboxes to appear as buttons, either individually, or in a group.

Button style checkboxes will have the class `.active` automatically applied to the label when they
are in the _checked_ state.

### Individual checkbox button style

A single checkbox can be rendered with a button appearance by setting the prop `button` to `true`

Change the button variant by setting the `button-variant` prop to one of the standard Bootstrap
button variants (see [`<b-button>`](/docs/components/button) for supported variants). The default
variant is `secondary`.

```html
<template>
  <div>
    <b-form-checkbox v-model="checked1" name="check-button" button>
      Button Checkbox <b>(Checked: {{ checked1 }})</b>
    </b-form-checkbox>
    <b-form-checkbox v-model="checked2" name="check-button" button button-variant="info">
      Button Checkbox <b>(Checked: {{ checked2 }})</b>
    </b-form-checkbox>
  </div>
</template>

<script>
  export default {
    data() {
      return {
        checked1: false,
        checked2: false
      }
    }
  }
</script>

<!-- b-form-checkbox-button.vue -->
```

The `inline` prop has no effect on individual button-style checkboxes.

### Grouped button style checkboxes

Render groups of checkboxes with the look of a button-group by setting the prop `buttons` on
`<b-form-checkbox-group>`. Change the button variant by setting the `button-variant` prop to one of
the standard Bootstrap button variants (see [`<b-button>`](/docs/components/button) for supported
variants). The default `button-variant` is `secondary`.

```html
<template>
  <div>
    <b-form-group label="Button-group style checkboxes">
      <b-form-checkbox-group
        v-model="selected"
        :options="options"
        name="buttons-1"
        buttons
      ></b-form-checkbox-group>
    </b-form-group>

    <b-form-group label="Button-group style checkboxes with variant primary and large buttons">
      <b-form-checkbox-group
        v-model="selected"
        :options="options"
        buttons
        button-variant="primary"
        size="lg"
        name="buttons-2"
      ></b-form-checkbox-group>
    </b-form-group>

    <b-form-group label="Stacked (vertical) button-group style checkboxes">
      <b-form-checkbox-group
        v-model="selected"
        :options="options"
        stacked
        buttons
      ></b-form-checkbox-group>
    </b-form-group>
  </div>
</template>

<script>
  export default {
    data() {
      return {
        selected: [], // Must be an array reference!
        options: [
          { text: 'Orange', value: 'orange' },
          { text: 'Apple', value: 'apple' },
          { text: 'Pineapple', value: 'pineapple' },
          { text: 'Grape', value: 'grape' }
        ]
      }
    }
  }
</script>

<!-- b-form-checkbox-button-group.vue -->
```

## Switch style checkboxes

Switch styling is supported on `<b-form-checkbox>` and `<b-form-checkbox-group>` components.

**Note:** If the checkbox is in [button mode](#button-style-checkboxes), switch mode will have no
effect.

### Individual checkbox switch style

A single checkbox can be rendered with a switch appearance by setting the prop `switch` to `true`

```html
<template>
  <div>
    <b-form-checkbox v-model="checked" name="check-button" switch>
      Switch Checkbox <b>(Checked: {{ checked }})</b>
    </b-form-checkbox>
  </div>
</template>

<script>
  export default {
    data() {
      return {
        checked: false
      }
    }
  }
</script>

<!-- b-form-checkbox-switch.vue -->
```

### Grouped switch style checkboxes

Render groups of checkboxes with the look of a switches by setting the prop `switches` on
`<b-form-checkbox-group>`.

```html
<template>
  <div>
    <b-form-group label="Inline switch style checkboxes">
      <b-form-checkbox-group
        v-model="selected"
        :options="options"
        switches
      ></b-form-checkbox-group>
    </b-form-group>

    <b-form-group label="Stacked (vertical) switch style checkboxes">
      <b-form-checkbox-group
        v-model="selected"
        :options="options"
        switches
        stacked
      ></b-form-checkbox-group>
    </b-form-group>
  </div>
</template>

<script>
  export default {
    data() {
      return {
        selected: [], // Must be an array reference!
        options: [
          { text: 'Red', value: 'red' },
          { text: 'Green', value: 'green' },
          { text: 'Yellow (disabled)', value: 'yellow', disabled: true },
          { text: 'Blue', value: 'blue' }
        ]
      }
    }
  }
</script>

<!-- b-form-checkboxes-switch-group.vue -->
```

### Switch sizing

Use the `size` prop to control the size of the switch. The default size is medium. Supported size
values are `sm` (small) and `lg` (large).

```html
<div>
  <b-form-checkbox switch size="sm">Small</b-form-checkbox>
  <b-form-checkbox switch>Default</b-form-checkbox>
  <b-form-checkbox switch size="lg">Large</b-form-checkbox>
</div>

<!-- form-checkbox-switch-sizes.vue -->
```

Sizes can be set on individual `<b-form-checkbox>` components, or inherited from the size setting of
`<b-form-checkbox-group>`.

**Note:** Bootstrap v4.x does not natively support sizes for the custom switch control. However,
BootstrapVue includes custom SCSS/CSS that adds support for sizing the custom switches.

## Non custom check inputs (plain)

You can have `<b-form-checkbox-group>` or `<b-form-checkbox>` render a browser native checkbox input
by setting the `plain` prop.

```html
<template>
  <div>
    <b-form-group label="Plain inline checkboxes">
      <b-form-checkbox-group
        v-model="selected"
        :options="options"
        plain
      ></b-form-checkbox-group>
    </b-form-group>

    <b-form-group label="Plain stacked checkboxes">
      <b-form-checkbox-group
        v-model="selected"
        :options="options"
        plain
        stacked
      ></b-form-checkbox-group>
    </b-form-group>
  </div>
</template>

<script>
  export default {
    data() {
      return {
        selected: [], // Must be an array reference!
        options: [
          { text: 'Orange', value: 'orange' },
          { text: 'Apple', value: 'apple' },
          { text: 'Pineapple', value: 'pineapple' },
          { text: 'Grape', value: 'grape' }
        ]
      }
    }
  }
</script>

<!-- b-form-checkbox-plain.vue -->
```

**Note:** The `plain` prop has no effect when `button` or `buttons` is set.

## Contextual states

Bootstrap includes validation styles for `valid` and `invalid` states on most form controls.

Generally speaking, you'll want to use a particular state for specific types of feedback:

- `false` (denotes invalid state) is great for when there's a blocking or required field. A user
  must fill in this field properly to submit the form.
- `true` (denotes valid state) is ideal for situations when you have per-field validation throughout
  a form and want to encourage a user through the rest of the fields.
- `null` Displays no validation state (neither valid nor invalid)

To apply one of the contextual state icons on `<b-form-checkbox>`, set the `state` prop to `false`
(for invalid), `true` (for valid), or `null` (no validation state).

**Note:** Contextual states are **not** supported when in button mode.

### Contextual state and validation example

```html
<template>
  <div>
    <b-form-checkbox-group
      v-model="value"
      :options="options"
      :state="state"
      name="checkbox-validation"
    >
      <b-form-invalid-feedback :state="state">Please select two</b-form-invalid-feedback>
      <b-form-valid-feedback :state="state">Thank you</b-form-valid-feedback>
    </b-form-checkbox-group>
  </div>
</template>

<script>
  export default {
    data() {
      return {
        value: [],
        options: [
          { text: 'First Check', value: 'first' },
          { text: 'Second Check', value: 'second' },
          { text: 'Third Check', value: 'third' }
        ]
      }
    },
    computed: {
      state() {
        return this.value.length === 2
      }
    }
  }
</script>

<!-- form-checkbox-validation.vue -->
```

### Required constraint

When using individual `<b-form-checkbox>` components (not in a `<b-form-checkbox-group>`), and you
want the checkbox(es) to be `required` in your form, you **must** provide a `name` on each
`<b-form-checkbox>` in order for the required constraint to work. All `<b-form-checkbox>` components
tied to the same `v-model` **must** have the same `name`.

The `name` is required in order for Assistive Technologies (such as screen readers, and keyboard
only users) to know which checkboxes belong to the same form variable (the name also automatically
enables native browser keyboard navigation), hence `required` will only work if `name` is set.
`<b-form-checkbox-group>` will automatically generate a unique input name if one is not provided on
the group.

## Autofocus

When the `autofocus` prop is set on `<b-form-checkbox>`, the input will be auto-focused when it is
inserted (i.e. **mounted**) into the document, or re-activated when inside a Vue `<keep-alive>`
component. Note that this prop **does not** set the `autofocus` attribute on the input, nor can it
tell when the input becomes visible.

## Indeterminate (tri-state) support

Normally a checkbox input can only have two states: _checked_ or _unchecked_. They can have any
value, but they either submit that value (_checked_) or don't (_unchecked_) with a form submission
(although BootstrapVue allows a value for the _unchecked_ state on a single checkbox)

_Visually_, there are actually three states a checkbox can be in: _checked_, _unchecked_, or
**_indeterminate_**.

The _indeterminate_ state is **visual only**. The checkbox is still either checked or unchecked as a
value. That means the visual indeterminate state masks the real value of the checkbox, so that
better make sense in your UI!

`<b-form-checkbox>` supports setting this visual indeterminate state via the `indeterminate` prop
(defaults to `false`). Clicking the checkbox will clear its indeterminate state. The `indeterminate`
prop can be synced to the checkbox's state by v-binding the `indeterminate` prop with the `.sync`
modifier.

**Note:** indeterminate styling is not supported in button or switch mode, nor is it supported in
`<b-form-checkbox-group>` (multiple checkboxes).

**Single Indeterminate checkbox:**

```html
<template>
  <div>
    <b-form-checkbox v-model="checked" :indeterminate.sync="indeterminate">
      Click me to see what happens
    </b-form-checkbox>

    <div class="mt-3">
      Checked: <strong>{{ checked }}</strong><br>
      Indeterminate: <strong>{{ indeterminate }}</strong>
    </div>

    <b-button @click="toggleIndeterminate">Toggle Indeterminate State</b-button>
  </div>
</template>

<script>
  export default {
    data() {
      return {
        checked: true,
        indeterminate: true
      }
    },
    methods: {
      toggleIndeterminate() {
        this.indeterminate = !this.indeterminate
      }
    }
  }
</script>

<!-- b-form-checkbox-indeterminate.vue -->
```

**Indeterminate checkbox use-case example:**

```html
<template>
  <div>
    <b-form-group>
      <template #label>
        <b>Choose your flavours:</b><br>
        <b-form-checkbox
          v-model="allSelected"
          :indeterminate="indeterminate"
          aria-describedby="flavours"
          aria-controls="flavours"
          @change="toggleAll"
        >
          {{ allSelected ? 'Un-select All' : 'Select All' }}
        </b-form-checkbox>
      </template>

      <b-form-checkbox-group
        id="flavors"
        v-model="selected"
        :options="flavours"
        name="flavors"
        class="ml-4"
        aria-label="Individual flavours"
        stacked
      ></b-form-checkbox-group>
    </b-form-group>

    <div>
      Selected: <strong>{{ selected }}</strong><br>
      All Selected: <strong>{{ allSelected }}</strong><br>
      Indeterminate: <strong>{{ indeterminate }}</strong>
    </div>
  </div>
</template>

<script>
  export default {
    data() {
      return {
        flavours: ['Orange', 'Grape', 'Apple', 'Lime', 'Very Berry'],
        selected: [],
        allSelected: false,
        indeterminate: false
      }
    },
    methods: {
      toggleAll(checked) {
        this.selected = checked ? this.flavours.slice() : []
      }
    },
    watch: {
      selected(newVal, oldVal) {
        // Handle changes in individual flavour checkboxes
        if (newVal.length === 0) {
          this.indeterminate = false
          this.allSelected = false
        } else if (newVal.length === this.flavours.length) {
          this.indeterminate = false
          this.allSelected = true
        } else {
          this.indeterminate = true
          this.allSelected = false
        }
      }
    }
  }
</script>

<!-- b-form-checkbox-indeterminate-multiple.vue -->
```

**Note:** indeterminate is not supported in `button` mode, nor in multiple checkbox mode. Also pay
attention that plain checkbox (i.e. with prop `plain`) also supports indeterminate state on
Windows/Linux/Mac/Android, but not on iOS.

### Indeterminate state and accessibility

Not all screen readers will convey the indeterminate state to screen reader users. So it is
recommended to provide some form of textual feedback to the user (possibly by via the `.sr-only`
class) if the indeterminate state has special contextual meaning in your application.

<!-- Component reference added automatically from component package.json -->
