---
title: "Control Field — Usage"
canonical: https://sky-ui.cf.sky.com/components/control-field/usage
---

# Control Field — Usage

Control fields are used with checkbox and radio components.

## Basic Guidelines

The Control Field component holds a group of [Checkboxes](/components/checkbox/) or [Radios](/components/radio/) and adds information like label, [Validation](/components/validation/) message or an in-line message.

For more information on the [Radio](/components/radio/) and [Checkbox](/components/checkbox/) components, please refer to their individual documentation.

## Content Guidance

- The list of options should be structured in a logical order, from simplest operation to most complex, or least risk to most.
- Options should be comprehensive and clearly distinct, using unambiguous vocabulary and context.
- The error message needs to be specific, concise and helpful, providing a solution on how the user can complete the process.
- The in-line message is optional and used for additional context regarding the whole group of options.

## Error Messaging

If the Control field is displaying an error message, any [Checkbox](/components/checkbox/) or [Radio](/components/radio/) items automatically change their status to error accordingly.

Errors only occur if no selection has been made, but the user is required to make a choice to submit the form successfully.

  

## Alignment

We recommend a 48px gap when stacking multiple Control Field components, to ensure each is recognised as its own entity.

The Control Field must align with the grid system set out in [Foundations](/foundations/containers/). It sits in-line with the rest of the text.

On 12-column grids, the Control Field component sits left-aligned within the six centre columns of the grid, in-line with the rest of the text. The example below is downscaled proportionally for illustration purposes.