# Radio Button
UI guidelines on using radio buttons.
**Implementation:** [`JBRadioButton`](%gh-ic%/platform/platform-api/src/com/intellij/ui/components/JBRadioButton.java)
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## When to use
Use a radio button group to choose one option from 2 to 4 mutually exclusive options.
Do **not** use radio buttons if:
* Several options in a group can be selected. Use a group of [checkboxes](checkbox.md) instead.
* There are only 2 opposite yes/no options. Use a checkbox instead.
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* There are 5 and more options that can be charted on an axis, e.g., time delay. Use a slider instead.
* There are 5 and more options. Use a [drop-down list](drop_down.md):
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Consider using a [drop-down list](drop_down.md) if:
* The screen space is limited.
* The option might be used less often than other options on the screen.
* There are other drop-down lists in the same group of UI components. A radio button group is more noticeable than a drop-down list, so it will look like a more important setting.
* There is a combination of several UI components for one setting:
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*The automatic updates setting consists of a checkbox, three lengthy-labeled options in a dropdown and a button.*
## How to use
### Label
A label accompanies each checkbox and is placed next to it.
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If a label is long, split it into two lines. Avoid labels that take more than two lines. See recommendations on writing concise labels below.
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To implement this, use HTML formatting:
```kotlin
radioButton(
"Show options before adding
to version control")
```
```java
new JRadioButton(
"Show options before adding
to version control");
```
### Writing guidelines
Use sentence-style capitalization.
Do not use ending punctuation.
Use the imperative form of verbs.
Do not use negation in labels as it complicates understanding.
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Make labels short and intelligible — see [Writing short and clear text](writing_short.md).
### Group label
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Always start a radio button group with a group label. It explains what the options are for.
Use a checkbox or another radio button as a group label if the radio button group needs to be turned on or off.
Use a colon at the end of a group label.
## Sizes and placement
If a radio button group depends on another control, e.g., a checkbox, follow the rules for [dependent colors](layout.md#dependent-controls).
Otherwise, follow the rules for [independent colors](layout.md).