Checkboxes allow the user to select multiple options from a set.
If you have multiple on/off options appearing in a list, checkboxes are a good way to preserve space.
If you have a single on/off option, avoid using a checkbox and use an on/off switch instead.
By actively transforming from a box into a checkmark, the action of checking something off feels more fulfilling and directly manipulated.
Checkboxes use animation to communicate focused and pressed states.
![](/~mgoodman/developer.android.com/design/spec/storage/images/components-switches-checkbox-switches_07a_large_mdpi.png)
![](/~mgoodman/developer.android.com/design/spec/storage/images/components-switches-checkbox-switches_07b_large_mdpi.png)