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Language Foundation

indeterminate

Indeterminate is the state of a checkbox that indicates a mixed selection among the items it represents, with at least one item selected and at least one item not selected.

In plain English

This means the represented group is only partly selected. Some items are selected, and some are not. It is neither an all-selected state nor an all-unselected state.

In context

Here, indeterminate reports that the header checkbox represents a set of items in which some are selected and some are not.

Situation
Using dashboards, tables, filters, sorting, views, and bulk controls
What it communicates
reports the partial-selection state of the header checkbox

Meaning limits

By itself, indeterminate does not tell which specific items are selected or how many are in each state.

Examples

“After only four of the ten entries were ticked, the main checkbox was indeterminate.”

Core meaning

“Leave the header checkbox indeterminate while some rows stay selected and others remain unchecked.”

In context

  • checked Contrast

    This status shows full selection, not a mixture of selected and unselected items.

  • unchecked Contrast

    This status shows no selection, not a mixture of selected and unselected items.