Use Legend elements within fieldset elements

Oct 13, 2025 by thesweetdesigns.com 106 views

Use of Legend elements inside Aside elements: A Review of Best Practices

In the development of web applications, it is essential to adhere to best practices and guidelines to ensure that the user interface is intuitive, accessible, and follows the principles of web development. One such guideline is the use of HTML elements, specifically the Legend element, within the Aside element. In this article, we will delve into the use of Legend elements inside Aside elements, exploring the problems that arise from this practice and the recommended solutions.

The "Headings" of the filter categories are Legend elements within the Aside element. Legend elements are intended to be used within a fieldset element to provide a caption or legend for a set of form fields. However, in the provided template, the Legend element is used within the Aside element, which is not in line with the recommended best practices.

<legend class="utrecht-form-fieldset__legend utrecht-form-fieldset__legend--html-legend">API type</legend>

On the left side a category of filters is shown. On the right the developer tools show the code for this element which is a legend inside an aside

Legend elements are designed to provide a caption or legend for a set of form fields within a fieldset element. When used within an Aside element, the Legend element loses its intended purpose and can lead to confusion for users. The Aside element is intended to provide a supplementary content that is related to the main content, but not essential to its understanding. In this case, the Legend element is not providing a caption or legend for a set of form fields, but rather serving as a heading for the filter category.

Using Legend elements within Aside elements can have several consequences, including:

Confusion for users: When users see a Legend element within an Aside element, they may not understand its purpose or how it relates to the main content.
Accessibility issues: Legend elements are intended to be used within fieldset elements to provide a caption or legend for a set of form fields. When used within an Aside element, the Legend element may not be accessible to users with disabilities.
Semantic structure: Using Legend elements within Aside elements can lead to a semantic structure that is not in line with the recommended best practices, making it difficult for developers to understand the intended purpose of the HTML elements.

To resolve the issue of using Legend elements within Aside elements, the recommended solution is to use a heading element, such as H2 or H3, to provide a caption or legend for the filter category. This will ensure that the HTML structure is in line with the recommended best practices and provides a clear and accessible user interface.

<h2 class="utrecht-form-fieldset__legend utrecht-form-fieldset__legend--html-legend">API type</h2>

In conclusion, using Legend elements within Aside elements is not in line with the recommended best practices and can lead to confusion for users, accessibility issues, and a semantic structure that is not in line with the recommended guidelines. By using a heading element, such as H2 or H3, to provide a caption or legend for the filter category, developers can ensure that the HTML structure is in line with the recommended best practices and provides a clear and accessible user interface.

To ensure that the HTML structure is in line with the recommended best practices, follow these guidelines:

Use Legend elements within fieldset elements: Legend elements should be used within fieldset elements to provide a caption or legend for a set of form fields.
Use heading elements for captions or legends: Use heading elements, such as H2 or H3, to provide a caption or legend for a set of form fields or a filter category.
Avoid using Legend elements within Aside elements: Legend elements should not be used within Aside elements, as this can lead to confusion for users and accessibility issues.

By following these guidelines, developers can ensure that the HTML structure is in line with the recommended best practices and provides a clear and accessible user interface.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Using Legend elements inside Aside elements

A: A Legend element is used to provide a caption or legend for a set of form fields within a fieldset element. It is intended to help users understand the purpose of the form fields and how they relate to each other.

A: Using a Legend element within an Aside element can lead to confusion for users and accessibility issues. The Legend element is intended to provide a caption or legend for a set of form fields, but when used within an Aside element, it loses its intended purpose.

A: The recommended solution is to use a heading element, such as H2 or H3, to provide a caption or legend for the filter category. This will ensure that the HTML structure is in line with the recommended best practices and provides a clear and accessible user interface.

A: Yes, you can use a Legend element within a fieldset element even if you're not using form fields. The fieldset element is a container element that can be used to group related content, and the Legend element can be used to provide a caption or legend for that content.

A: To ensure that your HTML structure is in line with the recommended best practices, follow these guidelines:

Use Legend elements within fieldset elements to provide a caption or legend for a set of form fields.
Use heading elements, such as H2 or H3, to provide a caption or legend for a set of form fields or a filter category.
Avoid using Legend elements within Aside elements.

A: The consequences of not following the recommended best practices for using Legend elements can include:

Confusion for users
Accessibility issues
A semantic structure that is not in line with the recommended guidelines

A: By following the recommended best practices for using Legend elements, you can improve the accessibility of your web application by:

Providing a clear and consistent user interface
Ensuring that users with disabilities can access and use your web application
Following the recommended guidelines for semantic structure and accessibility

In conclusion, using Legend elements within Aside elements is not in line with the recommended best practices and can lead to confusion for users, accessibility issues, and a semantic structure that is not in line with the recommended guidelines. By following the recommended best practices for using Legend elements, you can ensure that your HTML structure is in line with the recommended guidelines and provides a clear and accessible user interface.