Checkboxes vs. Radio Buttons
Jakob Nielsen
User interface guidelines for when to use a checkbox control and when to use a radio button control. Twelve usability issues for checkboxes and radio buttons.
5 Oct 2022
Use checkboxes and radio buttons only to change settings, not as action buttons that make something happen. Also, the changed settings should not take effect until the user clicks the command button (labeled "OK" for example, or "Proceed to XXX" where "XXX" is the next step in a process).
Most important, following design standards enhances users' ability to predict what a control will do and how they'll operate it. When they see a list of checkboxes, users know that they can select multiple options. When they see a list of radio buttons, they know that they can only select one. (Of course, not every user knows this, but many do, especially since this has been a design standard since 1984.)
Say, for example, that you assume you can click on a radio button without any immediate impact, and can thus consider your choices after making a selection but before hitting "OK." In such a case, it's jarring when a website violates this standard and unexpectedly moves you to the next page once you enter a selection. Worse, it makes you fear what may happen as you work with forms elsewhere on the site.
Use checkboxes and radio buttons only to change settings, not as action buttons that make something happen. Also, the changed settings should not take effect until the user clicks the command button (labeled "OK" for example, or "Proceed to XXX" where "XXX" is the next step in a process).
Most important, following design standards enhances users' ability to predict what a control will do and how they'll operate it. When they see a list of checkboxes, users know that they can select multiple options. When they see a list of radio buttons, they know that they can only select one. (Of course, not every user knows this, but many do, especially since this has been a design standard since 1984.)