Custom Checkbox

Wrong implementation

Current code hides the standard <input type="checkbox"> element using display: none;, which makes it inaccessible for keyboard interaction because the element is effectively removed from the document flow.

HTML

<input type="checkbox" class="customCheckbox" id="checkbox1" />
<label for="checkbox1" class="customLabel"></label>

CSS

.customCheckbox {
  display: none;
}

.customLabel {
  cursor: pointer;
  height: 25px;
  width: 25px;
  background-color: #eee;
  display: inline-block;
  border-radius: 5px;
  position: relative;
  box-sizing: border-box;
}

.customCheckbox:checked + .customLabel {
  background-color: transparent;
}

.customCheckbox:checked + .customLabel::before {
  content: "😊";
  position: absolute;
  left: 50%;
  top: 50%;
  transform: translate(-50%, -50%);
  font-size: 20px;
}

Right implementation

Use a technique that visually hides the checkbox while keeping it accessible for keyboard navigation and interaction. This can be done by using opacity: 0

HTML

<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
  <head>
    <meta charset="UTF-8" />
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" />
    <title>Custom Checkbox</title>
    <style>
      .customCheckbox {
        opacity: 0;
        position: absolute;
        z-index: -1;
      }

      .customLabel {
        cursor: pointer;
        height: 25px;
        width: 25px;
        background-color: #eee;
        display: inline-block;
        border-radius: 5px;
        position: relative;
        box-sizing: border-box;
      }

      .customCheckbox:checked + .customLabel {
        background-color: transparent;
      }

      .customCheckbox:checked + .customLabel::before {
        content: "😊";
        position: absolute;
        left: 50%;
        top: 50%;
        transform: translate(-50%, -50%);
        font-size: 20px;
      }
    </style>
  </head>
  <body>
    <input type="checkbox" class="customCheckbox" id="checkbox1" />
    <label for="checkbox1" class="customLabel"></label>
  </body>
</html>