name: Form Element
description: A foundational wrapper component that provides consistent structure, labeling, and validation messaging for form
  inputs, ensuring accessibility and visual consistency across form controls.
category: Input
slds_classes:
  root: slds-form-element
  elements:
  - class: slds-form-element__label
    description: Label for the form element
    purpose: Provides accessible labeling for form controls
  - class: slds-form-element__control
    description: Container for the form control
    purpose: Wraps the actual input element
  - class: slds-form-element__help
    description: Help text for the form element
    purpose: Provides additional guidance or instructions
  - class: slds-form-element__icon
    description: Icon associated with the form element
    purpose: Visual indicator or status icon
  - class: slds-form-element__addon
    description: Additional content attached to form element
    purpose: Supplementary content like buttons or text
  modifiers:
  - class: slds-form-element_stacked
    description: Stacked layout with label above control
    usage: Default vertical layout for form elements
  - class: slds-form-element_horizontal
    description: Horizontal layout with label beside control
    usage: When horizontal alignment is preferred
  - class: slds-form-element_compound
    description: Compound form element with multiple controls
    usage: For grouped or related form controls
  states:
  - class: slds-has-error
    description: Error state for form element
    trigger: Applied when validation fails
variants:
- name: Base
  description: Standard form element wrapper
  classes:
  - slds-form-element
  usage_context: Default wrapper for individual form controls
  differences: Basic structure with label, control, and help text
- name: Stacked
  description: Vertical layout form element
  classes:
  - slds-form-element
  - slds-form-element_stacked
  usage_context: When vertical layout is preferred
  differences: Label positioned above the form control
- name: Horizontal
  description: Horizontal layout form element
  classes:
  - slds-form-element
  - slds-form-element_horizontal
  usage_context: When horizontal alignment is needed
  differences: Label positioned beside the form control
lightning_component:
  name: No direct component
  url: https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/component-library/overview/components
  mapping_notes: No direct Lightning Base Component equivalent - form element structure is built into Lightning input components
accessibility:
  keyboard_support:
  - Tab navigation to form controls
  - Label association with controls
  - Error message association
  screen_reader:
  - Label text announced with control
  - Required state communicated
  - Error messages read when present
  - Help text associated and announced
  aria_attributes:
  - for attribute linking label to control
  - aria-describedby for help text
  - aria-required for required fields
  - aria-invalid for error states
  - aria-labelledby for complex labeling
usage_guidelines:
  when_to_use:
  - As wrapper for all form input controls
  - When consistent form structure is needed
  - For accessible form labeling
  - When validation messaging is required
  when_not_to_use:
  - For non-form content
  - When custom form structure is needed
  best_practices:
  - Always include meaningful labels
  - Provide clear error messages
  - Use help text for additional guidance
  - Maintain consistent form element structure
  - Ensure proper label-control association
  common_mistakes:
  - Missing or unclear labels
  - Poor error message placement
  - Inconsistent form element structure
  - Breaking label-control associations
code_examples:
- title: Basic Form Element
  description: Form element with multiple related controls
  code: "<fieldset class=\"slds-form-element slds-form-element_compound\">\n      <legend class=\"slds-form-element__label\"\
    >Address</legend>\n      <div class=\"slds-form-element__control\">\n        <div class=\"\">\n          <div class=\"\
    \">\n            <div class=\"slds-size_1-of-1\">\n              <div class=\"slds-form-element\">\n                <label\
    \ class=\"slds-form-element__label\" for=\"street\">Street Address</label>\n                <div class=\"slds-form-element__control\"\
    >\n                  <input type=\"text\" id=\"street\" class=\"slds-input\">\n                </div>\n              </div>\n\
    \            </div>\n          </div>\n          <div class=\"\">\n            <div class=\"slds-size_1-of-2\">\n    \
    \          <div class=\"slds-form-element\">\n                <label class=\"slds-form-element__label\" for=\"city\">City</label>\n\
    \                <div class=\"slds-form-element__control\">\n                  <input type=\"text\" id=\"city\" class=\"\
    slds-input\">\n                </div>\n              </div>\n            </div>\n            <div class=\"slds-size_1-of-2\"\
    >\n              <div class=\"slds-form-element\">\n                <label class=\"slds-form-element__label\" for=\"zip\"\
    >ZIP Code</label>\n                <div class=\"slds-form-element__control\">\n                  <input type=\"text\"\
    \ id=\"zip\" class=\"slds-input\">\n                </div>\n              </div>\n            </div>\n          </div>\n\
    \        </div>\n      </div>\n      </fieldset>\n"
dependencies:
  css_files:
  - form-element.css
  - input.css
  javascript: []
  icons: []
  other_components:
  - input
  - select
  - textarea
  - checkbox
  - radio
related_components:
- name: Input
  relationship: container
  description: Form element wraps input components
- name: Select
  relationship: container
  description: Form element wraps select components
- name: Textarea
  relationship: container
  description: Form element wraps textarea components
- name: Checkbox
  relationship: container
  description: Form element wraps checkbox components
references:
  official_docs: https://v1.lightningdesignsystem.com/components/form-element/
metadata:
  version: 1.0.0
  last_updated: '2025-11-12'
  review_status: complete
  notes: ' Cleaned invalid classes and CSS variables on 2025-11-12 using slds-plus.css as source of truth.'