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Radio (and RadioGroup) — spec

Synthesized from Ant Design Radio, MUI Radio/RadioGroup, shadcn-ui radio-group. Mutually exclusive choice control. See also component-form-controls.md.

Radio vs Select

Radio for 2-5 visible options. Select / Combobox for 6+ OR when space is constrained.

Radio Select
All options visible Yes No (one at a time)
Use Few visible options; explicit choice Many options; chosen value visible
Visual Each option as a row Compact dropdown

Anatomy

Pick payment method:

○ Credit card
●  KakaoPay
○ Toss
○ Bank transfer

API

<RadioGroup value={method} onValueChange={setMethod}>
  <RadioGroup.Item value="card" id="card" />
  <label htmlFor="card">Credit card</label>

  <RadioGroup.Item value="kakao" id="kakao" />
  <label htmlFor="kakao">KakaoPay</label>

  <RadioGroup.Item value="toss" id="toss" />
  <label htmlFor="toss">Toss</label>
</RadioGroup>
Prop Type Default Description
value string controlled Selected value
defaultValue string — Uncontrolled initial
onValueChange (value: string) => void — Callback
disabled boolean false Disable all items
required boolean false One must be selected
orientation "vertical" \| "horizontal" "vertical" Layout

States

State Visual
Unselected Empty circle with border
Selected Filled circle with brand-color dot inside
Hover Border color shift
Focus-visible Ring around the focused item
Disabled Reduced opacity

Layouts

Vertical (default)

○ Option 1
○ Option 2
● Option 3

Horizontal

○ Option 1   ○ Option 2   ● Option 3

For 2-3 short options.

Card-style (visual-rich)

┌─────────────────────┐ ┌─────────────────────┐
│ ●  KakaoPay         │ │ ○  Toss             │
│    No fees          │ │    1.5% fee         │
└─────────────────────┘ └─────────────────────┘

Whole card clickable; radio dot in corner OR replaced by border highlight.

Tokens consumed

--radio-bg-unchecked
--radio-bg-checked-dot             (brand color dot inside)
--radio-border
--radio-border-checked
--radio-error-border
--radio-size                       (typically 16-20px)
--space-sm                         (item gap)
--motion-fast

Accessibility

  • RadioGroup: role="radiogroup" + aria-labelledby (often referencing a heading).
  • Radio.Item: role="radio" + aria-checked.
  • Keyboard:
  • Tab moves into the group (focuses the selected one or first if none).
  • Arrow keys navigate within the group AND change selection.
  • Space activates if not already activated.
  • For required: aria-required="true" on group; show error if no selection on submit.
  • Label every radio with linked <label htmlFor>.

Code example — Korean fintech payment method

function PaymentMethodPicker({ value, onChange }: Props) {
  return (
    <fieldset>
      <legend>결제 수단</legend>
      <RadioGroup value={value} onValueChange={onChange}>
        <div className="radio-row">
          <RadioGroup.Item value="kakao" id="pay-kakao" />
          <label htmlFor="pay-kakao">
            <Image src="/kakaopay-logo.svg" alt="KakaoPay" />
            카카오페이
          </label>
        </div>
        <div className="radio-row">
          <RadioGroup.Item value="naver" id="pay-naver" />
          <label htmlFor="pay-naver">
            <Image src="/naverpay-logo.svg" alt="NaverPay" />
            네이버페이
          </label>
        </div>
        <div className="radio-row">
          <RadioGroup.Item value="toss" id="pay-toss" />
          <label htmlFor="pay-toss">
            <Image src="/toss-logo.svg" alt="Toss" />
            토스페이
          </label>
        </div>
      </RadioGroup>
    </fieldset>
  );
}

Don't

  • Don't use Radio for binary on/off — use Switch (immediate effect) or Checkbox (form).
  • Don't allow zero selection in a required group. Validation must catch it.
  • Don't make the visual circle smaller than 16x16. Touch target ≥ 44pt via padding.
  • Don't omit <fieldset> + <legend> for the group context.
  • Don't have only one radio in a group. That's a Checkbox or just a single button.

References

Cross-reference