Checkbox

A checkbox (English for selection box, check box, check box ) is a standard control panel graphical user interfaces. With a checkbox yes / no questions ( options ) are often answered and it is common to formulate the selection condition is not as a question but as a statement (eg, " I accept the terms " instead of " Accept Conditions the "). Check boxes are often used to build interactive checklists, selection or questionnaires used because, in contrast to similar control element " radio button" several options of a list can be selected. The instruction to select a check box, it means labeling by mouse click in order to activate the underlying function.

Operation

There are six possible states that can accept a check box:

Each click on the checkbox to its state between checked ( state 2) and unchecked ( condition 1 ) and possibly part marked ( state 3) and changed back. Sometimes it will be disabled by the software ( state 4 ); this is done in special cases, for example when a selection of a different point affects the option, illustrated as follows:

• The field is lifted color (eg dark gray), the box does not respond to mouse clicks. It remains the default (ie marked or unmarked) visible in many cases. Sometimes the deposit is also designed so that the pre-selection is not obvious;
• The checkbox is completely hidden

Most stands right next to the checkbox, a label that also effected by switching the checkbox mouse click; sometimes the font itself is changed by the click of a mouse. If the box is disabled, so usually also the font is greyed out.

Integration can be CheckBoxes on sites using the HTML tags . By checked the input tag to the attributes, disabled or both supplements, the boxes are selected, not selected or selected and not editable.

Appearance

The appearance varies depending on the operating system. The most common variant is a box, in the case of condition 2 with a cross or hook. Even with the deactivated states, there are different designs, usually the case in a different color is deposited.

A checkbox can also be distinguished by color (eg: Field light gray background) be. This occurs, for example, if a value is to be displayed does not correspond yes nor no. This is for example in selection lists of installers is the case, when you can select the components to install in a tree. If you select only a part of, the parent category receives the third state, since not all components are enabled or disabled. Similarly, it is also when you can see the properties of multiple files with different file attributes on Windows. Activated partial checkboxes are not displayed in the Windows XP Luna and Windows Vista Aero theme gray, rather than a rectangle (instead of a check mark ).

Multiple checkboxes are often grouped together for the selection of related thematically options. In spite of this summary, the checkboxes behave this independently. This is the main difference with radio buttons where an option can be activated within a group always accurate. However, there are also special cases: for example it is conceivable that at least one needs to be and therefore it is not possible to disable the last enabled check box is selected in a group of checkboxes. It may also be that the whole group is deactivated by a checkbox or a radio button in the parent level.