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Chip

Guidance Code Accessibility

Component variants

Interactive example

There are two types of chip: dismissible chips and static chips. Dismissible chips have both filled and outline variants and are interactive, whereas static chips simply present information and aren't actionable.

Dismissible chips

Use a dismissible chip to show selected data from a user action that can be cleared by dismissing the chip. This is often used in the context of filtering and selection.

Filled

Use filled dismissible chips to provide high emphasis on the displayed information.

Outlined

Use outlined dismissible chips to provide low emphasis on the displayed information.

Static chips

Use static chips to display information that does not need clearing. They aren't interactive, so they don't present any action and they can't be dismissed.

When to use

Dismissible chips

Use dismissible chips when you need to choose multiple items from a list but need to show items after they've been chosen.

Common use cases include:

  • A list showing which filters have been selected for a search.

  • Choosing multiple recipients of a message.

A correct example of a series of dismissible chips being used in a multi-select dropdown to display a list of selected items.
Use dismissible chips for filtering multiple items.

Static chips

Use static chips when you need to simply display a piece of information with no interaction, such as a label.

Common use cases include:

  • Labelling or drawing attention to a particular card or row because of its state.

  • Displaying the current location of an item.

A correct example of three static chips labelled 'Published 18 May 2021', '#UI', and '#Components' right below the header of a page titled 'Guidance'.
Use static chips to display descriptive, non-interactive information.

When not to use

Dismissible chips

Don't use dismissible chips where the user can't re-select the item presented in the chip.

For example, if used to show a selected filter, after dismissing the chip and clearing the filter, it can be applied again later.

Don't use dismissible chips when the user will not be able to re-select the dismissed item.

Allow users to re-select the item after it has been dismissed.

Static chips

Don't use static chips to show status. Use status tags instead.

Three chips, of which a neutral tag labelled 'Idle, a warning tag labelled 'Offline', and success tag labelled 'Online' displaying the status of three coffee machines.
Use status tags to display status.
Three static chips labelled 'Idle', 'Offline', and 'Online' displaying the status of three coffee machines.
Don't use static chips to denote status.

Layout and placement

Chip grouping

When using chips in a group, make sure they are left aligned and are positioned next to each other in a row.

Only position chips on multiple rows if there isn't enough horizontal space to show them on one, or if they are segmented into labelled groups.

Content

Labels

Use concise labels for better readability. Longer labels will force the text to wrap.

An example of a long label being wrapped on two lines. Avoid using long labels as it will force the text to wrap.

Icons

Use an icon on the left of a dismissible or static chip to provide additional meaning.

When including an icon in a chip make sure that the icon is understandable and relevant to the information presented.

Always provide alternative descriptions for icons, or mark them as decorative. Don't use icons if they aren't necessary.


Last reviewed 28 February 2024 .
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