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ARIA-Label vs. ARIA Labeledby

Kimberly Springs

Jeffrey Rodgers

April 25 3 min read

Accessiblü Insight

This Ablü Insight focuses on how to properly use ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) labels. This is an essential aspect of web design that ensures interactive elements are accessible to all users, including those using assistive technologies like screen readers.

Implementing ARIA labels, such as aria-label and aria-labelledby, is essential to provide context and instructions for users who cannot visually perceive content. ARIA labels play a crucial role in ensuring that these users can access and understand the content effectively.

By mastering these attributes and adhering to accessibility standards like WCAG 2.2, developers can create more inclusive digital environments that accommodate users with diverse needs.


In this edition of Insights we’re going to help demystify when to use aria-label or aria-labeledby.

The aria-label and aria-labelledby attributes both provide accessible names for content and interactive elements on web pages. Still, they serve different purposes and are used in different contexts:

  1. aria-label:
    • Purpose: This attribute is used to define a string that labels the current element. It is used when there is no visible label or text that can be programmatically associated with the element.

    • Usage: You can use aria-label to provide an accessible name when the visual design does not include text for a label. For example, it is commonly used on icon buttons or elements where the visual representation (like an icon) conveys the button’s purpose but there is no textual label on the screen.
    • HTML Example:
      <button aria-label="Close" onclick="closeModal()">X</button>
  2. aria-labelledby:
    • Purpose: This attribute references other elements on the page to define a label. It allows the user to specify one or more elements to contribute to the accessible name.
    • Usage: Use aria-labelledby when you want to refer to other elements that are already present on the page, which can provide a meaningful label. This is particularly useful when the label is composed of multiple separate elements.
    • HTML Example:
      <div id="nameLabel">Name:</div>
      <input type="text" aria-labelledby="nameLabel" />

Key Differences:

  • Direct vs. Referenced: aria-label provides a label directly as a string, whereas aria-labelledby references other elements that contain the text used for the label.
  • Simplicity vs. Complexity: aria-label is straightforward and good for short labels, especially when no visible text matches the label.
  • The aria-labelledby attribute offers more flexibility as it can construct a label using multiple text sources. This attribute becomes particularly useful when dealing with complex widgets or integrating labels with visual context.

Each of these attributes plays a critical role in enhancing accessibility, particularly for users who rely on screen readers to navigate and interact with web content. It’s important to choose the right attribute based on the specific needs of the content and the presence of visible text elements.

Read More about ARIA from the W3C

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