Identifier | U.S. Web Design System (USWDS)

https://designsystem.digital.gov/components/identifier Archived on 2026-04-24 14:16 UTC

Identifier | U.S. Web Design System (USWDS)
Official websites use .gov
.gov
website belongs to an official government
organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
lock
) or
means you’ve safely connected to
the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official,
secure websites.
Components
Accordion
Alert
Banner
Breadcrumb
Button
Button group
Card
Character count
Checkbox
Collection
Combo box
Data visualizations
Date picker
Date range picker
File input
Footer
Form
Grid
Header
Icon
Icon list
Identifier
Identifier accessibility tests
In-page navigation
Input mask
Input prefix/suffix
Language selector
Link
List
Memorable date
Modal
Pagination
Process list
Prose
Radio buttons
Range slider
Select
Side navigation
Site alert
Step indicator
Summary box
Table
Tag
Text input
Time picker
Tooltip
Typography
Validation
The identifier communicates a site’s parent agency and displays agency links required by federal laws and policies.
Passed WCAG 2.1 AA
About the identifier component
Note:
Identifier is a core component along with the
banner
component. We recommend using both core components on most sites. Together, they are the most recognizable and standardized design elements of a government site.
Default
domain.gov
An
official website of the

Looking for U.S. government information and services?
Visit USA.gov
Default (Spanish)
domain.gov
Un sitio web oficial de

¿Necesita información y servicios del Gobierno?
Visite USAGov en Español
Multiple parents and logos
domain.gov
An
official website of the

and the

Looking for U.S. government information and services?
Visit USA.gov
Multiple parents and logos (Spanish)
domain.gov
Un sitio web oficial de

¿Necesita información y servicios del Gobierno?
Visite USAGov en Español
No logos
domain.gov
An
official website of the

Looking for U.S. government information and services?
Visit USA.gov
Taxpayer disclaimer
domain.gov
An
official website of the

. Produced and published at
taxpayer expense.
Looking for U.S. government information and services?
Visit USA.gov
Taxpayer disclaimer (Spanish)
domain.gov
Un sitio web oficial de

Producido y publicado con dinero de los contribuyentes de impuestos.
¿Necesita información y servicios del Gobierno?
Visite USAGov en Español

Default

class="usa-identifier__section usa-identifier__section--masthead"
aria-label="Agency identifier,"

>class="usa-identifier__logo-img"
src="/assets/img/circle-gray-20.svg"
alt="<Parent agency> logo"
role="img"
/>

class="usa-identifier__identity"
aria-label="Agency description,"

domain.gov

official website of the
<Parent agency>

class="usa-identifier__section usa-identifier__section--required-links"
aria-label="Important links,"

href="javascript:void(0)"
class="usa-identifier__required-link usa-link"
>About <Parent shortname>

>Accessibility statement

>FOIA requests

>No FEAR Act data

>Office of the Inspector General

>Performance reports

>Privacy policy

class="usa-identifier__section usa-identifier__section--usagov"
aria-label="U.S. government information and services,"

Looking for U.S. government information and services?

Visit USA.gov

Default (Spanish)

class="usa-identifier__section usa-identifier__section--masthead"
aria-label="Identificador de la agencia,"

>class="usa-identifier__logo-img"
src="/assets/img/circle-gray-20.svg"
alt="<Parent agency> logo"
role="img"
/>

class="usa-identifier__identity"
aria-label="Descripción de la agencia,"

domain.gov

Un sitio web oficial de <Parent agency>

class="usa-identifier__section usa-identifier__section--required-links"
aria-label="Enlaces importantes,"

href="javascript:void(0)"
class="usa-identifier__required-link usa-link"
>Acerca de <Parent shortname>

>Declaración de accesibilidad

>Solicitud a través de FOIA

>Datos de la ley No FEAR

>Oficina del Inspector General

>Informes de desempeño

>Política de privacidad

class="usa-identifier__section usa-identifier__section--usagov"
aria-label="Información y servicios del Gobierno de EE. UU.,"

¿Necesita información y servicios del Gobierno?

>Visite USAGov en Español

Multiple parents and logos

class="usa-identifier__section usa-identifier__section--masthead"
aria-label="Agency identifier,,,"

>class="usa-identifier__logo-img"
src="/assets/img/circle-gray-20.svg"
alt="<Parent agency> logo"
role="img"
/> >>class="usa-identifier__logo-img"
src="/assets/img/circle-gray-20.svg"
alt="<Other agency> logo"
role="img"
/>

class="usa-identifier__identity"
aria-label="Agency description,,,"

domain.gov

official website of the
<Parent agency> and the
<Other agency>

class="usa-identifier__section usa-identifier__section--required-links"
aria-label="Important links,,,"

href="javascript:void(0)"
class="usa-identifier__required-link usa-link"
>About <Parent shortname>

>Accessibility statement

>FOIA requests

>No FEAR Act data

>Office of the Inspector General

>Performance reports

>Privacy policy

class="usa-identifier__section usa-identifier__section--usagov"
aria-label="U.S. government information and services,,,"

Looking for U.S. government information and services?

Visit USA.gov

Multiple parents and logos (Spanish)

class="usa-identifier__section usa-identifier__section--masthead"
aria-label="Identificador de la agencia,,,"

class="usa-identifier__identity"
aria-label="Descripción de la agencia,,,"

domain.gov

Un sitio web oficial de <Parent agency> y
<Other agency>

class="usa-identifier__section usa-identifier__section--required-links"
aria-label="Enlaces importantes,,,"

href="javascript:void(0)"
class="usa-identifier__required-link usa-link"
>Acerca de <Parent shortname>

>Declaración de accesibilidad

>Solicitud a través de FOIA

>Datos de la ley No FEAR

>Oficina del Inspector General

>Informes de desempeño

>Política de privacidad

class="usa-identifier__section usa-identifier__section--usagov"
aria-label="Información y servicios del Gobierno de EE. UU.,,,"

¿Necesita información y servicios del Gobierno?

>Visite USAGov en Español

No logos

class="usa-identifier__section usa-identifier__section--masthead"
aria-label="Agency identifier,,"

class="usa-identifier__identity"
aria-label="Agency description,,"

domain.gov

official website of the
<Parent agency>

class="usa-identifier__section usa-identifier__section--required-links"
aria-label="Important links,,"

href="javascript:void(0)"
class="usa-identifier__required-link usa-link"
>About <Parent shortname>

>Accessibility statement

>FOIA requests

>No FEAR Act data

>Office of the Inspector General

>Performance reports

>Privacy policy

class="usa-identifier__section usa-identifier__section--usagov"
aria-label="U.S. government information and services,,"

Looking for U.S. government information and services?

Visit USA.gov

Taxpayer disclaimer

class="usa-identifier__section usa-identifier__section--masthead"
aria-label="Agency identifier,,,,"

>class="usa-identifier__logo-img"
src="/assets/img/circle-gray-20.svg"
alt="<Parent agency> logo"
role="img"
/>

class="usa-identifier__identity"
aria-label="Agency description,,,,"

domain.gov

official website of the
<Parent agency> . Produced and published at
taxpayer expense.

class="usa-identifier__section usa-identifier__section--required-links"
aria-label="Important links,,,,"

href="javascript:void(0)"
class="usa-identifier__required-link usa-link"
>About <Parent shortname>

>Accessibility statement

>FOIA requests

>No FEAR Act data

>Office of the Inspector General

>Performance reports

>Privacy policy

class="usa-identifier__section usa-identifier__section--usagov"
aria-label="U.S. government information and services,,,,"

Looking for U.S. government information and services?

Visit USA.gov

Taxpayer disclaimer (Spanish)

class="usa-identifier__section usa-identifier__section--masthead"
aria-label="Identificador de la agencia,,,,"

>class="usa-identifier__logo-img"
src="/assets/img/circle-gray-20.svg"
alt="<Parent agency> logo"
role="img"
/>

class="usa-identifier__identity"
aria-label="Descripción de la agencia,,,,"

domain.gov

Un sitio web oficial de <Parent agency> .
Producido y publicado con dinero de los contribuyentes de impuestos.

class="usa-identifier__section usa-identifier__section--required-links"
aria-label="Enlaces importantes,,,,"

href="javascript:void(0)"
class="usa-identifier__required-link usa-link"
>Acerca de <Parent shortname>

>Declaración de accesibilidad

>Solicitud a través de FOIA

>Datos de la ley No FEAR

>Oficina del Inspector General

>Informes de desempeño

>Política de privacidad

class="usa-identifier__section usa-identifier__section--usagov"
aria-label="Información y servicios del Gobierno de EE. UU.,,,,"

¿Necesita información y servicios del Gobierno?

>Visite USAGov en Español

class=
"site-preview-heading"
Default

class=
"usa-identifier"
class=
"usa-identifier__section usa-identifier__section--masthead"
aria-label=
"Agency identifier,"
class=
"usa-identifier__container"
class=
"usa-identifier__logos"
href=
""
class=
"usa-identifier__logo"
>class=
"usa-identifier__logo-img"
src=
"/assets/img/circle-gray-20.svg"
alt=
"<Parent agency> logo"
role=
"img"
/>

class=
"usa-identifier__identity"
aria-label=
"Agency description,"
class=
"usa-identifier__identity-domain"
domain.gov

class=
"usa-identifier__identity-disclaimer"
aria-hidden=
"true"
An

official website of the
href=
""
<
Parent agency
>

class=
"usa-identifier__section usa-identifier__section--required-links"
aria-label=
"Important links,"
class=
"usa-identifier__container"
class=
"usa-identifier__required-links-list"
class=
"usa-identifier__required-links-item"
href=
"javascript:void(0)"
class=
"usa-identifier__required-link usa-link"
About
<
Parent shortname
>

class=
"usa-identifier__required-links-item"
href=
""
class=
"usa-identifier__required-link usa-link"
Accessibility statement

class=
"usa-identifier__required-links-item"
href=
""
class=
"usa-identifier__required-link usa-link"
FOIA requests

class=
"usa-identifier__required-links-item"
href=
""
class=
"usa-identifier__required-link usa-link"
No FEAR Act data

class=
"usa-identifier__required-links-item"
href=
""
class=
"usa-identifier__required-link usa-link"
Office of the Inspector General

class=
"usa-identifier__required-links-item"
href=
""
class=
"usa-identifier__required-link usa-link"
Performance reports

class=
"usa-identifier__required-links-item"
href=
""
class=
"usa-identifier__required-link usa-link"

class=
"usa-identifier__section usa-identifier__section--usagov"
aria-label=
"U.S. government information and services,"
class=
"usa-identifier__container"
class=
"usa-identifier__usagov-description"
Looking for U.S. government information and services?

href=
"https://www.usa.gov/"
class=
"usa-link"
Visit USA.gov

class=
"site-preview-heading"
Default (Spanish)

class=
"usa-identifier"
class=
"usa-identifier__section usa-identifier__section--masthead"
aria-label=
"Identificador de la agencia,"
class=
"usa-identifier__container"
class=
"usa-identifier__logos"
href=
"javascript:void(0)"
class=
"usa-identifier__logo"
>class=
"usa-identifier__logo-img"
src=
"/assets/img/circle-gray-20.svg"
alt=
"<Parent agency> logo"
role=
"img"
/>

class=
"usa-identifier__identity"
aria-label=
"Descripción de la agencia,"
class=
"usa-identifier__identity-domain"
domain.gov

class=
"usa-identifier__identity-disclaimer"
Un sitio web oficial de
href=
""
<
Parent agency
>

class=
"usa-identifier__section usa-identifier__section--required-links"
aria-label=
"Enlaces importantes,"
class=
"usa-identifier__container"
class=
"usa-identifier__required-links-list"
class=
"usa-identifier__required-links-item"
href=
"javascript:void(0)"
class=
"usa-identifier__required-link usa-link"
Acerca de
<
Parent shortname
>

class=
"usa-identifier__required-links-item"
href=
""
class=
"usa-identifier__required-link usa-link"
Declaración de accesibilidad

class=
"usa-identifier__required-links-item"
href=
""
class=
"usa-identifier__required-link usa-link"
Solicitud a través de FOIA

class=
"usa-identifier__required-links-item"
href=
""
class=
"usa-identifier__required-link usa-link"
Datos de la ley No FEAR

class=
"usa-identifier__required-links-item"
href=
""
class=
"usa-identifier__required-link usa-link"
Oficina del Inspector General

class=
"usa-identifier__required-links-item"
href=
""
class=
"usa-identifier__required-link usa-link"
Informes de desempeño

class=
"usa-identifier__required-links-item"
href=
""
class=
"usa-identifier__required-link usa-link"
Política de privacidad

class=
"usa-identifier__section usa-identifier__section--usagov"
aria-label=
"Información y servicios del Gobierno de EE. UU.,"
class=
"usa-identifier__container"
class=
"usa-identifier__usagov-description"
¿Necesita información y servicios del Gobierno?

href=
"https://www.usa.gov/es/"
class=
"usa-link"
Visite USAGov en Español

class=
"site-preview-heading"
Multiple parents and logos

class=
"usa-identifier"
class=
"usa-identifier__section usa-identifier__section--masthead"
aria-label=
"Agency identifier,,,"
class=
"usa-identifier__container"
class=
"usa-identifier__logos"
href=
"javascript:void(0)"
class=
"usa-identifier__logo"
>class=
"usa-identifier__logo-img"
src=
"/assets/img/circle-gray-20.svg"
alt=
"<Parent agency> logo"
role=
"img"
/>
>href=
"javascript:void(0);"
class=
"usa-identifier__logo"
>class=
"usa-identifier__logo-img"
src=
"/assets/img/circle-gray-20.svg"
alt=
"<Other agency> logo"
role=
"img"
/>

class=
"usa-identifier__identity"
aria-label=
"Agency description,,,"
class=
"usa-identifier__identity-domain"
domain.gov

class=
"usa-identifier__identity-disclaimer"
aria-hidden=
"true"
An

official website of the
href=
""
<
Parent agency
>

and the
href=
"javascript:void(0)"
<
Other agency
>

class=
"usa-identifier__section usa-identifier__section--required-links"
aria-label=
"Important links,,,"
class=
"usa-identifier__container"
class=
"usa-identifier__required-links-list"
class=
"usa-identifier__required-links-item"
href=
"javascript:void(0)"
class=
"usa-identifier__required-link usa-link"
About
<
Parent shortname
>

class=
"usa-identifier__required-links-item"
href=
""
class=
"usa-identifier__required-link usa-link"
Accessibility statement

class=
"usa-identifier__required-links-item"
href=
""
class=
"usa-identifier__required-link usa-link"
FOIA requests

class=
"usa-identifier__required-links-item"
href=
""
class=
"usa-identifier__required-link usa-link"
No FEAR Act data

class=
"usa-identifier__required-links-item"
href=
""
class=
"usa-identifier__required-link usa-link"
Office of the Inspector General

class=
"usa-identifier__required-links-item"
href=
""
class=
"usa-identifier__required-link usa-link"
Performance reports

class=
"usa-identifier__required-links-item"
href=
""
class=
"usa-identifier__required-link usa-link"

class=
"usa-identifier__section usa-identifier__section--usagov"
aria-label=
"U.S. government information and services,,,"
class=
"usa-identifier__container"
class=
"usa-identifier__usagov-description"
Looking for U.S. government information and services?

href=
"https://www.usa.gov/"
class=
"usa-link"
Visit USA.gov

class=
"site-preview-heading"
Multiple parents and logos (Spanish)

class=
"usa-identifier"
class=
"usa-identifier__section usa-identifier__section--masthead"
aria-label=
"Identificador de la agencia,,,"
class=
"usa-identifier__container"
class=
"usa-identifier__logos"
href=
"javascript:void(0)"
class=
"usa-identifier__logo"
>class=
"usa-identifier__logo-img"
src=
"/assets/img/circle-gray-20.svg"
alt=
"<Parent agency> logo"
role=
"img"
/>
>href=
"javascript:void(0);"
class=
"usa-identifier__logo"
>class=
"usa-identifier__logo-img"
src=
"/assets/img/circle-gray-20.svg"
alt=
"<Other agency> logo"
role=
"img"
/>

class=
"usa-identifier__identity"
aria-label=
"Descripción de la agencia,,,"
class=
"usa-identifier__identity-domain"
domain.gov

class=
"usa-identifier__identity-disclaimer"
Un sitio web oficial de
href=
""
<
Parent agency
>

href=
"javascript:void(0)"
<
Other agency
>

class=
"usa-identifier__section usa-identifier__section--required-links"
aria-label=
"Enlaces importantes,,,"
class=
"usa-identifier__container"
class=
"usa-identifier__required-links-list"
class=
"usa-identifier__required-links-item"
href=
"javascript:void(0)"
class=
"usa-identifier__required-link usa-link"
Acerca de
<
Parent shortname
>

class=
"usa-identifier__required-links-item"
href=
""
class=
"usa-identifier__required-link usa-link"
Declaración de accesibilidad

class=
"usa-identifier__required-links-item"
href=
""
class=
"usa-identifier__required-link usa-link"
Solicitud a través de FOIA

class=
"usa-identifier__required-links-item"
href=
""
class=
"usa-identifier__required-link usa-link"
Datos de la ley No FEAR

class=
"usa-identifier__required-links-item"
href=
""
class=
"usa-identifier__required-link usa-link"
Oficina del Inspector General

class=
"usa-identifier__required-links-item"
href=
""
class=
"usa-identifier__required-link usa-link"
Informes de desempeño

class=
"usa-identifier__required-links-item"
href=
""
class=
"usa-identifier__required-link usa-link"
Política de privacidad

class=
"usa-identifier__section usa-identifier__section--usagov"
aria-label=
"Información y servicios del Gobierno de EE. UU.,,,"
class=
"usa-identifier__container"
class=
"usa-identifier__usagov-description"
¿Necesita información y servicios del Gobierno?

href=
"https://www.usa.gov/es/"
class=
"usa-link"
Visite USAGov en Español

class=
"site-preview-heading"
No logos

class=
"usa-identifier"
class=
"usa-identifier__section usa-identifier__section--masthead"
aria-label=
"Agency identifier,,"
class=
"usa-identifier__container"
class=
"usa-identifier__identity"
aria-label=
"Agency description,,"
class=
"usa-identifier__identity-domain"
domain.gov

class=
"usa-identifier__identity-disclaimer"
aria-hidden=
"true"
An

official website of the
href=
""
<
Parent agency
>

class=
"usa-identifier__section usa-identifier__section--required-links"
aria-label=
"Important links,,"
class=
"usa-identifier__container"
class=
"usa-identifier__required-links-list"
class=
"usa-identifier__required-links-item"
href=
"javascript:void(0)"
class=
"usa-identifier__required-link usa-link"
About
<
Parent shortname
>

class=
"usa-identifier__required-links-item"
href=
""
class=
"usa-identifier__required-link usa-link"
Accessibility statement

class=
"usa-identifier__required-links-item"
href=
""
class=
"usa-identifier__required-link usa-link"
FOIA requests

class=
"usa-identifier__required-links-item"
href=
""
class=
"usa-identifier__required-link usa-link"
No FEAR Act data

class=
"usa-identifier__required-links-item"
href=
""
class=
"usa-identifier__required-link usa-link"
Office of the Inspector General

class=
"usa-identifier__required-links-item"
href=
""
class=
"usa-identifier__required-link usa-link"
Performance reports

class=
"usa-identifier__required-links-item"
href=
""
class=
"usa-identifier__required-link usa-link"

class=
"usa-identifier__section usa-identifier__section--usagov"
aria-label=
"U.S. government information and services,,"
class=
"usa-identifier__container"
class=
"usa-identifier__usagov-description"
Looking for U.S. government information and services?

href=
"https://www.usa.gov/"
class=
"usa-link"
Visit USA.gov

class=
"site-preview-heading"
Taxpayer disclaimer

class=
"usa-identifier"
class=
"usa-identifier__section usa-identifier__section--masthead"
aria-label=
"Agency identifier,,,,"
class=
"usa-identifier__container"
class=
"usa-identifier__logos"
href=
"javascript:void(0)"
class=
"usa-identifier__logo"
>class=
"usa-identifier__logo-img"
src=
"/assets/img/circle-gray-20.svg"
alt=
"<Parent agency> logo"
role=
"img"
/>

class=
"usa-identifier__identity"
aria-label=
"Agency description,,,,"
class=
"usa-identifier__identity-domain"
domain.gov

class=
"usa-identifier__identity-disclaimer"
aria-hidden=
"true"
An

official website of the
href=
""
<
Parent agency
>

. Produced and published at
taxpayer expense.

class=
"usa-identifier__section usa-identifier__section--required-links"
aria-label=
"Important links,,,,"
class=
"usa-identifier__container"
class=
"usa-identifier__required-links-list"
class=
"usa-identifier__required-links-item"
href=
"javascript:void(0)"
class=
"usa-identifier__required-link usa-link"
About
<
Parent shortname
>

class=
"usa-identifier__required-links-item"
href=
""
class=
"usa-identifier__required-link usa-link"
Accessibility statement

class=
"usa-identifier__required-links-item"
href=
""
class=
"usa-identifier__required-link usa-link"
FOIA requests

class=
"usa-identifier__required-links-item"
href=
""
class=
"usa-identifier__required-link usa-link"
No FEAR Act data

class=
"usa-identifier__required-links-item"
href=
""
class=
"usa-identifier__required-link usa-link"
Office of the Inspector General

class=
"usa-identifier__required-links-item"
href=
""
class=
"usa-identifier__required-link usa-link"
Performance reports

class=
"usa-identifier__required-links-item"
href=
""
class=
"usa-identifier__required-link usa-link"

class=
"usa-identifier__section usa-identifier__section--usagov"
aria-label=
"U.S. government information and services,,,,"
class=
"usa-identifier__container"
class=
"usa-identifier__usagov-description"
Looking for U.S. government information and services?

href=
"https://www.usa.gov/"
class=
"usa-link"
Visit USA.gov

class=
"site-preview-heading"
Taxpayer disclaimer (Spanish)

class=
"usa-identifier"
class=
"usa-identifier__section usa-identifier__section--masthead"
aria-label=
"Identificador de la agencia,,,,"
class=
"usa-identifier__container"
class=
"usa-identifier__logos"
href=
"javascript:void(0)"
class=
"usa-identifier__logo"
>class=
"usa-identifier__logo-img"
src=
"/assets/img/circle-gray-20.svg"
alt=
"<Parent agency> logo"
role=
"img"
/>

class=
"usa-identifier__identity"
aria-label=
"Descripción de la agencia,,,,"
class=
"usa-identifier__identity-domain"
domain.gov

class=
"usa-identifier__identity-disclaimer"
Un sitio web oficial de
href=
""
<
Parent agency
>

Producido y publicado con dinero de los contribuyentes de impuestos.

class=
"usa-identifier__section usa-identifier__section--required-links"
aria-label=
"Enlaces importantes,,,,"
class=
"usa-identifier__container"
class=
"usa-identifier__required-links-list"
class=
"usa-identifier__required-links-item"
href=
"javascript:void(0)"
class=
"usa-identifier__required-link usa-link"
Acerca de
<
Parent shortname
>

class=
"usa-identifier__required-links-item"
href=
""
class=
"usa-identifier__required-link usa-link"
Declaración de accesibilidad

class=
"usa-identifier__required-links-item"
href=
""
class=
"usa-identifier__required-link usa-link"
Solicitud a través de FOIA

class=
"usa-identifier__required-links-item"
href=
""
class=
"usa-identifier__required-link usa-link"
Datos de la ley No FEAR

class=
"usa-identifier__required-links-item"
href=
""
class=
"usa-identifier__required-link usa-link"
Oficina del Inspector General

class=
"usa-identifier__required-links-item"
href=
""
class=
"usa-identifier__required-link usa-link"
Informes de desempeño

class=
"usa-identifier__required-links-item"
href=
""
class=
"usa-identifier__required-link usa-link"
Política de privacidad

class=
"usa-identifier__section usa-identifier__section--usagov"
aria-label=
"Información y servicios del Gobierno de EE. UU.,,,,"
class=
"usa-identifier__container"
class=
"usa-identifier__usagov-description"
¿Necesita información y servicios del Gobierno?

href=
"https://www.usa.gov/es/"
class=
"usa-link"
Visite USAGov en Español

Guidance
When to use the identifier component
To identify the highest-level agency associated with a site or service.
The identifier is a complement to the USWDS
banner
. Use the identifier to tell users what parent agency is responsible for your website. Consider the parent agency the highest-level agency associated with a site or service. If your site is the primary site associated with an agency, you can still use the identifier.
To display links required by federal laws and policies.
The identifier includes
links required on all government sites
When to consider something else
Any time it would be misleading.
The identifier should be used to reduce confusion. Avoid using the identifier on any site meant only for testing or otherwise not meant to be identified as an official government website.
Redundant content.
Don’t add the identifier without removing any duplicate links from your existing site footer. Favor the common links and content in the identifier over any equivalent content in your site footer.
Usability guidance
Use the identifier component for required links.
If your site already includes the federally required links in its site footer, remove them in favor of the links in the identifier. This assures that site visitors find the required links in a consistent location from site to site.
Consider the parent agency the highest-level agency associated with a site or service.
In some cases, your site may not have a parent agency. If your site is the primary site for your agency, use your agency name in place of [Parent Agency]. For example, “[agency.gov] An official website of [Agency].”
Display the parent agency logo, not the product logo.
The identifier is meant to identify a website’s parent agency as a complement to the site footer. Site-specific logos, like a product logo, should be in the site footer, not the identifier. You may omit the logo in the identifier if it is redundant with the agency logo in your site’s footer.
Display multiple parents and logos in hierarchical order.
If a site has more than one parent agency, you may display a reference and a logo for each parent in hierarchical order, highest first. For example, “An official website of [Grandparent Department] and [Parent Agency]”.
Avoid distraction.
The identifier appears on every page of your site. Choose background colors that fit with your site theme and avoid color combinations that draw excessive attention to the identifier.
Keep the text up-to-date.
Use the most current version of the identifier.
Accessibility guidance
Test the identifier component in your own project.
USWDS tested the identifier component for accessibility. You should test your implementation, too.
Use identifier accessibility tests
Use proper landmarks for each identifier section.
Each identifier section should be either a
section
or a
nav
, and include an appropriate
aria-label
property.
Add an
alt
attribute to each logo image.
Use
[Agency shortname] logo
as the alt text for each logo image you add.
Use
image
role for any SVG images.
Use
role="img"
with any SVG logo image.
Using the identifier component
Except where noted, use the entire component without deletions or additions.
With rare exceptions, if you use the identifier, include the entire identifier. That is, don’t delete sections or required links or change any link text beyond the customizations mentioned in the implementation section.
Use a background color darker than that of the footer.
Anchor the identifier to the bottom of the page and distinguish it from other site content by adding a background color that is darker than the footer. Use primary or base family background colors of grade
80
or higher, or
black
Use an SVG logo if possible.
Ensure the logo is high resolution. We recommend using the SVG version of any logo if you have one. Otherwise, use an image that’s at least 120 pixels tall.
Use logos intended for dark backgrounds if possible.
The identifier has a dark background. If your agency has a version of its logo intended for dark backgrounds, use that version.
Update the required links to point to the proper URLs.
The identifier includes links required of any federal website, and these links are specific to a department, agency, or website. We’ve linked each section below to the guidance on Digital.gov to provide further context.
About [Official parent agency acronym]
Update the link text to include the parent agency’s official acronym. Link to the “About” page of your parent agency’s principal website. If your site includes multiple parents, include only the organization highest in the hierarchy in this link.
Example:
Accessibility statement
Link to your website or service’s
accessibility statement
, or to your parent agency’s accessibility statement if your website or service does not have its own.
Example:
FOIA requests
Link to a page that includes information about how the public can request information under the Freedom of Information Act on your parent agency’s principal website.
Example:
No FEAR Act data
Link to the “Equal Employment Opportunity Data Posted Pursuant to the No Fear Act” page on your parent agency’s principal website.
Example:
Office of the Inspector General
Link to your parent agency’s Office of the Inspector General.
Example:
Performance reports
Link to a “Budget and Performance” page that includes the parent agency’s strategic plan among other financial and performance documentation.
Example:
Link to the “Privacy” page most specific to your website. For example, if both your product website and your parent agency’s principal website have privacy pages, link to your product website’s privacy page here.
Example:
Use the Spanish version for Spanish-language sites.
If you have an official Spanish-language website, use the Spanish version of the identifier.
Duplicate the logo element if using multiple logos.
If you’re using multiple logos, duplicate the
usa-identifier__logo
element and link the image to your image source.
If applicable, include any taxpayer disclaimer after the standard text.
If the organization must provide a taxpayer expense disclaimer, include it following the “Official website” text, as a separate sentence. For example, “An official website of [Department]. Produced and published at taxpayer expense.”
Identifier settings
Variable
Description
$theme-identifier-background-color
The background color of the identifier. Use a color of
grade 80 or higher
, darker than the section that precedes it.
$theme-identifier-font-family
The font family of the identifier.
$theme-identifier-identity-domain-color
The color of your domain text in the identifier masthead. This should be
grade 20-30
in the same family as the
$theme-identifier-background-color
$theme-identifier-max-width
The maximum width of the content within the identifier. Use the same max-width as your site footer.
$theme-identifier-primary-link-color
The color of the links in the masthead section.
Default
uses either the standard or reverse link color set with
$theme-link-color
and
$theme-link-reverse-color
$theme-identifier-secondary-link-color
The color of the links in the required links section. This should be
grade 20-30
in a
gray
family.
Identifier variants
This component has no variants.
Accessibility test status
The USWDS team did 16 tests based on WCAG 2.1 AA success criteria.
Overview of recent accessibility test results:
Total tests
Passed
Passed with exceptions
Conditional
Failed
16
11
Overview of recent accessibility test results:
Passed:
11
Passed with exceptions:
Conditional:
Failed:
Learn more on the
identifier accessibility tests page
Package
Package usage:
@forward "usa-identifier";
Dependencies:
uswds-fonts
uswds-core
Latest updates
Meaningful code and guidance updates are listed in the following table:
Date
USWDS version
Affects
Breaking
Description
2024-11-07
N/A
Guidance
No
Added clarification on parent agency.
We added guidance to cover cases where a site has no higher-level agency.

More information:
uswds-site#2591
2024-10-04
3.9.0
Content
No
Updated the USA.gov link in Spanish versions of the identifier.
The link text now reads “Visite USAGov en Español” and the link url is now “https://www.usa.gov/es/”.

More information:
uswds#5892
2024-08-13
N/A
Guidance
No
Added WCAG compliance tag and accessibility test status section.
More information:
uswds-site#2754
2024-05-31
3.8.1
Content
Guidance
No
Fixed a bug that mistakenly added the English word “An” to Spanish variants in the component preview.
More information:
uswds#5857
2023-11-09
3.7.0
Markup
No
Updated the screen reader readout in English versions of the component.
When read out on a screen reader, the statement “An official website of [Agency name]” can sound like “UNofficial website of [Agency name]”. Users should update their markup to improve the screen reader experience.

More information:
uswds#5491
2023-06-09
3.5.0
Content
Breaking
Breaking
Updated Accessibility statement link text.
Updated the identifier to use the text “Accessibility statement” (EN) / “Declaración de accesibilidad” (ES) for the required link to an accessibility statement.

More information:
uswds#5278
2023-06-09
3.5.0
Guidance
No
Updated Accessibility statement link guidance.
Updated and clarified the identifier guidance for accessibility statements. We also improved the accessibility statement example links.

More information:
uswds-site#2097
2022-10-19
3.2.0
Markup
Breaking
Breaking
Used valid element for identity’s aria-label.
We updated the identity section of the identifier to use a
section
instead of a
div
so its
aria-label
will apply to a valid element.

More information:
uswds#4964
2022-04-28
3.0.0
Assets
JavaScript
Styles
Breaking
Breaking
Updated to Sass module syntax and new package structure.
More information:
uswds#4656
2021-03-17
N/A
Guidance
No
Added identifier guidance and documentation.
More information:
uswds-site#1180
designsystem.digital.gov
An
official website of the
General Services Administration
Looking for U.S. government information and services?
Visit USA.gov

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