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Published · Updated · v0.6.5 · MIT License · Source: icon-button.md

Icon button

standard
filled
filled-tonal
outlined
Disabled filled
standard
filled toggle
filled toggle selected

Icon button is a compact, single-tap action control built from a native HTML <button> (for actions) or <a> (for navigation). Use an icon button when a toolbar or surface needs a small action carried by a glyph plus an accessible name — edit, delete, refresh. The tap target must stay touch-friendly. It renders a Material Web–compatible circular touch target with a trusted inline SVG glyph.

Guidance

When to use

Use an icon button when a surface needs a small action carried by a glyph and an accessible name. The tap target must stay touch-friendly.

When not to use

Do not use an icon button when the action needs a visible label to be understood. A Button with text is clearer. If several icon actions pile up on one surface, a Menu can hold them without crowding the toolbar.

Usability

  • Four variants match Material Web anatomy: standard, filled, filled-tonal, and outlined.
  • Provide an Href to render an <a> for navigation; otherwise the control is a native <button>.
  • Toggle icon buttons reflect their state with aria-pressed and may expose a state-specific name.

Accessibility

  • An icon button is never icon-only without a name: use the visible label, or supply an aria-label. The template refuses to emit an empty one.
  • Keyboard focus uses an exterior 3 px :focus-visible outline with a 2 px offset.
  • Disabled and pressed states do not rely on color alone; forced-colors and reduced-motion themes are covered by the shared build.

See Choose the right control for the cross-component decision.

Variants

The live preview below uses the same icon-button Go template as this documentation layout. Four variants are available, matching Material Web anatomy:

  • standard — transparent, lowest emphasis.
  • filled — primary container, high emphasis.
  • filled-tonal — secondary container, medium emphasis.
  • outlined — outlined circle, medium emphasis.

Accessible name (required)

An icon button is never icon-only without a name. Use the visible label on a standard icon button, or supply an aria-label for icon-only buttons. The template refuses to emit an empty aria-label=""; an unlabelled instance still exposes the glyph only if the caller provides a real name.

Toggle

Toggle icon buttons switch between selected and unselected states, reflecting the toggle with aria-pressed. A selected toggle may render a distinct selected glyph and, when AriaLabelSelected is given, expose a state-specific accessible name. Disabled toggle buttons lose the activation path (disabled on the native button; an <a> in inactive mode omits href, leaves the tab order, and carries aria-disabled).

Provide an Href to render an <a> for navigation. For un-navigable (disabled) href controls, the link omits the destination, leaves the tab order, and exposes its inactive state — no activation path remains.

Trust boundary

IconSVG and SelectedIcon are per-instance inline SVG slots typed as template.HTML. Pass only trusted, internal markup — never user input. Icon glyphs are decorative by contract and must include aria-hidden="true" and focusable="false"; the accessible name comes from the visible label or aria-label.

Accessibility

Keyboard focus uses an exterior 3 px :focus-visible outline with a 2 px offset. Disabled and pressed states do not rely on color alone; forced-colors and reduced-motion themes are covered by the shared build.