Checkbox vs Radio vs Switch
Three ways to let the user pick something
I need the user to make a selection. Which control?
Comparison table
| Pattern | Multiple selection | Takes effect | What it expresses | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Checkbox复选框 | Yes | On form submit | "I checked these" | Cart multi-select, accepting terms |
| Radio Button单选按钮 | No (mutually exclusive) | Selected on click | "I picked one of these" | Sign-in method, plan choice |
| Switch开关 | Not applicable | Applies immediately | "This feature is on or off" | Feature toggles in settings |
← Swipe to see the full table
The demos, side by side
Checkbox
复选框How to decide: Collecting several choices
Radio Button
单选按钮How to decide: Pick one out of many
Switch
开关How to decide: Flipping a state on or off
Decision rule
- several options can be picked at onceuse a Checkbox
- only one option is allowed and all of them should stay visibleuse a Radio
- it is the on/off state of a featureuse a Switch
- what comes next is "what should I do now"that is a Button, not a selection control
Radio and Switch both look like a dot or a slider, but one is a single decision and the other is a lasting state. Ask: am I choosing once, or turning something on?