What Does "For" Attribute Do in HTML ≪Label≫ Tag

What does for attribute do in HTML label tag?

The <label> tag allows you to click on the label, and it will be treated like clicking on the associated input element. There are two ways to create this association:

One way is to wrap the label element around the input element:

<label>Input here:
    <input type='text' name='theinput' id='theinput'>
</label>

The other way is to use the for attribute, giving it the ID of the associated input:

<label for="theinput">Input here:</label>
<input type='text' name='whatever' id='theinput'>

This is especially useful for use with checkboxes and buttons, since it means you can check the box by clicking on the associated text instead of having to hit the box itself.

Read more about the <label> element on MDN.

Associating text with an input is very important for accessibility, as it provides an accessible name for the input, so that assistive technology can provide it to users with disabilities. A screen reader would read the label text when the user focusses the input. You could also tell your voice command software to focus that input, but it needs a (visible) name for that.

What is the HTML for= attribute in label?

To associate the <label> with an <input> element, you need to give the <input> an id attribute. The <label> then needs a for attribute whose value is the same as the input's id:

<label for="username">Click me</label>
<input type="text" id="username">

The for attribute associates a <label> with an <input> element; which offers some major advantages:

1. The label text is not only visually associated with its corresponding text input; it is programmatically associated with it too. This means that, for example, a screen reader will read out the label when the user is focused on the form input, making it easier for an assistive technology user to understand what data should be entered.

2. You can click the associated label to focus/activate the input, as well as the input itself. This increased hit area provides an advantage to anyone trying to activate the input, including those using a touch-screen device.

Alternatively, you can nest the <input> directly inside the <label>, in which case the for and id attributes are not needed because the association is implicit:

<label>Click me <input type="text"></label>

Notes:

One input can be associated with multiple labels.

When a <label> is clicked or tapped and it is associated with a form control, the resulting click event is also raised for the associated control.

Accessibility concerns

Don't place interactive elements such as anchors or buttons inside a label. Doing so, makes it difficult for people to activate the form input associated with the label.

Headings

Placing heading elements within a <label> interferes with many kinds of assistive technology, because headings are commonly used as a navigation aid. If the label's text needs to be adjusted visually, use CSS classes applied to the <label> element instead.

If a form, or a section of a form needs a title, use the <legend> element placed within a <fieldset>.

Buttons

An <input> element with a type="button" declaration and a valid value attribute does not need a label associated with it. Doing so may actually interfere with how assistive technology parses the button input. The same applies for the <button> element.

Ref:
https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/label

what the meaning of FOR in a label tag?

The for attribute specifies which form element the label is bound to.

The label element allows the user to give focus to a form element by clicking on an associate label. If you do not use the for attribute, this association will not be made.

Is for attribute necessary in HTML label if the target input is nested inside the label?

It's used for accessibility for screen readers and the like i.e.

use_the_label_element_to_make_your_html_forms_accessible

So you should use it. And here is a link to convince you about the importance of accessibily.

And here is a little story - making your site accessible can benefit all users - i always was amazed at the amount of effort civic authorities went to for wheelchair accessibilty until I had a daughter and use a push chair. I think websites follow the same rule - everyone benefits.

Apologies for the polemic

What is the HTML label tag used for?

The html <label> tag creates a label for an <input> element. When the <label> element is clicked, it toggles the control for the input element. For example, the label for an <input> element with type="text" will create focus on the <input> element when clicked. For the label to work, its for attribute must equal the id of the <input> element it is labeling.

For more information, read this: https://www.w3schools.com/tags/tag_label.asp

Why should you use the label tag and 'for' attribute?

The label tag supports with a click the focus on the input element where id attribute equals labels for attribute.
If you have e.g. a checkbox you can choose this one also with a click on the label.

Example:

<input type="checkbox" value="1" id="myCheckbox"/>

// A click here set the focus on the according checkbox without javascript things 
// And it's easier to select than a small checkbox element 
<label for="myCheckbox">My Checkbox</label>

What's the for for in a label tag?

From w3schools.org:

The tag defines a label for an input element.
The label element does not render as anything special for the user. However, it provides a usability improvement for mouse users, because if the user clicks on the text within the label element, it toggles the control.
The for attribute of the tag should be equal to the id attribute of the related element to bind them together.

HTH!

adding my $.02 as an Accessibility SME - as well as usability, the LABEL also associates the input field with the correct label so persons using screen readers will know what the field is for.

Can the label tags for attribute be associated with a normal div?

Not according to the spec:

Some elements, not all of them form-associated, are categorized as
labelable elements. These are elements that can be associated with a
label element.

"button" "input" (if the type attribute is not in the hidden state) "keygen"
"meter" "output" "progress" "select" "textarea"

http://www.w3.org/TR/html5/forms.html#category-label

What Does "For" Attribute Do in HTML ≪Label≫ Tag