The HTML aria-controls attribute
The aria-controls attribute identifies the element (or elements) that the current control operates on — for example the panel a tab opens or a button toggles. Value: a space-separated list of element id values.
Overview
The aria-controls attribute identifies the element(s) whose contents or presence this element controls.
It is a relationship property: it wires elements together for assistive technology by referencing their ids. The element(s) you point at must exist in the DOM with matching ids, and the relationship is exposed only to assistive technology — it has no visual effect, so you still style and lay out the page normally.
Like all ARIA, aria-controls changes only the accessibility tree — what assistive technology perceives — never the element's behavior or appearance. The first rule of ARIA applies: if a native HTML element or attribute conveys this, use that instead, and only reach for ARIA when nothing native fits.
Syntax
<button aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="menu">Menu</button>
<ul id="menu" hidden> … </ul>Values
| Value |
|---|
| A space-separated list of element id values. |
Example
<button aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="faq1">Question</button>
<div id="faq1" hidden>Answer…</div>Best practices
- Follow the first rule of ARIA — use a native HTML element or attribute that conveys this where one exists, rather than adding ARIA.
- Reference real elements — every target
idmust exist in the DOM. - Remember the relationship is conveyed only to assistive technology and has no visual effect.
- Prefer native associations (a <label>'s
for, a <table>'s structure) where they exist.
Frequently asked questions
What does aria-controls do?
How does this attribute reference another element?
id. The element(s) you point at must exist in the DOM with matching ids.