How to Use Radio Buttons Vs. Check Boxes

Radio buttons and check boxes are useful features for creating Internet forms, electronic polls or surveys. There are distinct differences between the two. Radio buttons are circular and are used for multiple choice questions that have only one answer. When you click on a button, a little dot appears in the middle of the circle to show that you have selected it. If you click a different choice, the dot will move to the center of the new circle that you have selected.

Check boxes are square and they are used for questions that could have more than one answer. When you click on a box, a check mark is placed inside of it.

For this lesson, you don't need to know any code. Use the free form builder at Wufoo.com to create a form that can be embedded on any web site.

Things You'll Need

• Wufoo.com Form Builder

Instructions

Radio Buttons

1. Go to Wufoo.com. Sign up for a free account, then click the link to create a new form.

2. Click on the title, "Untitled Form". In the "Form Settings" tab, located on the left, change the "Form Name" to "Radio Buttons vs. Check Boxes".

3. Click the "Add a Field" tab, located at the far left. Under the "Standard" fields, locate the "Multiple Choice" button. Click and drag it to the space beneath the new title to insert a new multiple choice field.

4. Click on the new field. This action will open the "Field Settings" tab, located on the left. Change the "Field Label" from "Select a choice" to "Radio buttons allow only one choice".

5. In the "Field Settings" tab, under "Choices", change the first choice to "True". Change the second choice to "False". Delete the third option that appears on the list by clicking the minus sign next to it.

Check Boxes

1. Return to the "Add a Field" tab. Locate the "Checkboxes" button. Click and drag the button to the space beneath the multiple choice field.

2. Click the new field. This action will cause the "Field Settings" tab to appear. Change the "Field Label" to "Checkboxes let me check as many answers as I wish".

3. Under "Choices", change the first choice to "Like this one". Change the second choice to "Or this one". Change the third choice to "And this one too!"

4. Click the "Save Form" button at the bottom of the page. On the pop-up box, click option #3, "I'm finished! Take me back to the Form Manager."

5. Locate your form on the list. Click "View". On the form you just created, click the options under both questions to see how the radio buttons and check boxes will work.

Tips & Warnings

• You do not need programming skills to build a web form. Wufoo form builder is a free and easy way to create custom forms that can be embedded on any web site. If you need a more complex form (more than ten questions), you can use the Dagon Secure Form Mailer Wordpress plug in. It takes a little more coding "know-how" to set up but installation is easy.

References

• Adobe.com - radio buttons vs. check boxes
• The Java Tutorials - How to Use Buttons, Check Boxes, and Radio Buttons

Resources

• WuFoo Form Builder
• Dagon Design Secure Form Mailer Plugin For Wordpress