GC Design System Components
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Error message
<gcds-error-message>

Also called: error, inline error.

An error message is a description of a problem blocking a user goal.

  • GitHub
  • Figma

Error message component preview

On this page

Coding and accessibility for error messages

Use error messages to support accessible task success

  • Make sure a person can immediately access the form controls associated with the label the error message is attached to.
  • Make your error message specific to avoid a user getting the same error message again after they thought they fixed the error.
  • Avoid introducing additional steps. Let a person know exactly what to do to fix the error so they can take action and resubmit or revalidate without having to do extra work.
  • Provide one or two solutions for fixing the error, not a multi-step process.

Note: All GC Design System components already come with default error handling for required form components.

Follow a predictable format for error messages

Provide simple, fast guidance that's in context and interrupts the flow of action as minimally as possible:

  • Clearly identifies and points to the error.
  • Defines the error without making the user's actions the source of the problem.
  • Includes a call to action that's specific and actionable.

A person who receives an error message needs to:

  • Find the error and be able to access it.
  • Know what to do to fix it.
  • Be able to make the changes.
  • Resubmit or revalidate without having to fill out the whole form again.

Examples Explore the different ways you can configure the component. Each example shows a working implementation and ready-to-copy code.

In this section

Essential attributes These attributes are needed for the component to function correctly.

message-id

The message-id attribute specifies the unique identifier for the error message.

<gcds-error-message message-id="message-default">
  Error message.
</gcds-error-message>

Slots The default slot allows you to inject custom content into the component’s primary content area, and named slots, into specific areas.

default

The default slot is for adding the error message text.

<gcds-error-message message-id="message-default">
  Error message.
</gcds-error-message>

Code builder

Generate an instance of the component you need by selecting its code properties.

  1. Explore by choosing different code values to generate the instance you want.

  2. Get the code and pull it into your environment.

  3. Add any copy you need to the component (like text for a label).

Note: The code builder uses English for all code elements, which follows standard practice.

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2026-05-20