Forms · Complete runnable example

Native radio star rating

Use familiar stars while keeping native radio behavior and one selected value.

Try the example Read and copy the source

Live example

This preview runs in an isolated document. Clipboard writes and saved preferences may be blocked, and printing requires the standalone file. A dialog affects only the example. Reset reloads the original example state.

When to use it

Use a small radio group when someone chooses exactly one rating from an ordered scale. This example keeps real native inputs visible and makes hover only a temporary visual preview.

Try the important details

  1. Hover over five stars without clicking and confirm no radio becomes selected.
  2. Choose three stars, hover elsewhere, then leave the group; the three-star selection returns.
  3. Use native arrow keys to change the rating, then Clear rating to remove the choice and focus the first radio.

How it works

  • Five same-named radios sit in a labeled fieldset. Each label names its star count and provides a pointer target.
  • Only radio change events commit the value. Mouse pointer entry paints a preview and pointer leave restores the actual checked value.
  • Clear unchecks the group, announces the empty state, and focuses its first radio. Without JavaScript the native radio selection still works.

The complete source

The preview, copied text, and downloaded file use this same document.

HTML 

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    <title>How did that feel? | MRHTML example</title>
    <style>
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      }
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      .small {
        font-size: 13px;
        color: var(--muted);
      }
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        margin: 9px 0 0;
      }
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      label.field {
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    </style>
  </head>
  <body>
    <main>
      <p class="brand">
        <b>MR<span>HTML</span></b
        ><span>THE INTERACTION NOTEBOOK</span><i aria-hidden="true"></i>
      </p>
      <section class="card" aria-labelledby="title">
        <p class="eyebrow">08 / Native star rating</p>
        <h1 id="title">How did that feel?</h1>
        <p class="intro">
          Choose a rating for this fictional practice exercise. Hovering
          previews the stars; only a click or keyboard choice sets a value.
        </p>
        <fieldset class="rating-field">
          <legend>Rate the sample exercise</legend>
          <div class="stars" id="rating-group">
            <label class="rating-choice"
              ><input type="radio" name="rating" id="rating-1" value="1" /><span
                class="star"
                aria-hidden="true"
                >★</span
              ><span class="rating-number" aria-hidden="true">1</span
              ><span class="sr">1 star</span></label
            ><label class="rating-choice"
              ><input type="radio" name="rating" id="rating-2" value="2" /><span
                class="star"
                aria-hidden="true"
                >★</span
              ><span class="rating-number" aria-hidden="true">2</span
              ><span class="sr">2 stars</span></label
            ><label class="rating-choice"
              ><input type="radio" name="rating" id="rating-3" value="3" /><span
                class="star"
                aria-hidden="true"
                >★</span
              ><span class="rating-number" aria-hidden="true">3</span
              ><span class="sr">3 stars</span></label
            ><label class="rating-choice"
              ><input type="radio" name="rating" id="rating-4" value="4" /><span
                class="star"
                aria-hidden="true"
                >★</span
              ><span class="rating-number" aria-hidden="true">4</span
              ><span class="sr">4 stars</span></label
            ><label class="rating-choice"
              ><input type="radio" name="rating" id="rating-5" value="5" /><span
                class="star"
                aria-hidden="true"
                >★</span
              ><span class="rating-number" aria-hidden="true">5</span
              ><span class="sr">5 stars</span></label
            >
          </div>
        </fieldset>
        <p id="rating-status" class="status" role="status" hidden>
          No rating selected.
        </p>
        <div class="actions">
          <button type="button" id="clear-rating" class="secondary" disabled>
            Clear rating
          </button>
        </div>
        <div class="panel">
          <p class="small">
            Use Tab to reach the radio group, then arrow keys to choose from one
            to five stars. Your choice stays in this page only.
          </p>
        </div>
        <noscript
          ><p>
            The labeled native radio buttons work without JavaScript. Preview
            highlighting, the live message, and clearing the group require
            JavaScript. No rating is submitted.
          </p></noscript
        >
      </section>
      <p class="footer">A local MRHTML example. Nothing is sent or saved.</p>
    </main>
    <script>
      (function () {
        'use strict';

        var radios = Array.from(
            document.querySelectorAll('input[name="rating"]'),
          ),
          choices = Array.from(document.querySelectorAll('.rating-choice')),
          group = document.getElementById('rating-group'),
          status = document.getElementById('rating-status'),
          clear = document.getElementById('clear-rating');
        function selected() {
          var checked = radios.find(function (radio) {
            return radio.checked;
          });
          return checked ? Number(checked.value) : 0;
        }
        function paint(value) {
          choices.forEach(function (choice, i) {
            choice.classList.toggle('lit', i < value);
          });
        }
        function update() {
          var value = selected();
          paint(value);
          status.textContent = value
            ? 'Selected ' + value + ' of 5 stars. Nothing was submitted.'
            : 'No rating selected.';
          clear.disabled = value === 0;
        }
        radios.forEach(function (radio) {
          radio.addEventListener('change', update);
        });
        choices.forEach(function (choice, i) {
          choice.addEventListener('pointerenter', function (event) {
            if (event.pointerType === 'mouse') paint(i + 1);
          });
        });
        group.addEventListener('pointerleave', function () {
          paint(selected());
        });
        clear.addEventListener('click', function () {
          radios.forEach(function (radio) {
            radio.checked = false;
          });
          update();
          radios[0].focus();
        });
        status.hidden = false;
        update();
      })();
    </script>
  </body>
</html>