fix(input): prevent Android TalkBack from focusing label separately (#30895)

Issue number: resolves internal

---------

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issue. -->

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etc). Submit multiple pull requests if needed. -->

## What is the current behavior?
When using `ion-input` with a label on Android, TalkBack treats the
visual label text as a separate focusable element. This causes the
initial focus to land on the label instead of the input field, creating
a confusing experience for screen reader users.

## What is the new behavior?
The label text wrapper is now hidden from the accessibility tree via
`aria-hidden="true"`, while the native input maintains proper labeling
through `aria-labelledby`. This ensures Android TalkBack focuses
directly on the input field while still announcing the label correctly.

## Does this introduce a breaking change?

- [ ] Yes
- [X] No

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  2. Update the BREAKING.md file with the breaking change.
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## Other information

<!-- Any other information that is important to this PR such as
screenshots of how the component looks before and after the change. -->

Current dev build:
```
8.7.16-dev.11767032989.1ae720d0
```

core/src/components/input/input.tsx

@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ export class Input implements ComponentInterface {
   private inputId = `ion-input-${inputIds++}`;
   private helperTextId = `${this.inputId}-helper-text`;
   private errorTextId = `${this.inputId}-error-text`;
+  private labelTextId = `${this.inputId}-label`;
   private inheritedAttributes: Attributes = {};
   private isComposing = false;
   private slotMutationController?: SlotMutationController;
@@ -406,7 +407,12 @@ export class Input implements ComponentInterface {
   connectedCallback() {
     const { el } = this;
 
-    this.slotMutationController = createSlotMutationController(el, ['label', 'start', 'end'], () => forceUpdate(this));
+    this.slotMutationController = createSlotMutationController(el, ['label', 'start', 'end'], () => {
+      this.setSlottedLabelId();
+      forceUpdate(this);
+    });
+
+    this.setSlottedLabelId();
     this.notchController = createNotchController(
       el,
       () => this.notchSpacerEl,
@@ -721,7 +727,7 @@ export class Input implements ComponentInterface {
   }
 
   private renderLabel() {
-    const { label } = this;
+    const { label, labelTextId } = this;
 
     return (
       <div
@@ -729,8 +735,17 @@ export class Input implements ComponentInterface {
           'label-text-wrapper': true,
           'label-text-wrapper-hidden': !this.hasLabel,
         }}
+        // Prevents Android TalkBack from focusing the label separately.
+        // The input remains labelled via aria-labelledby.
+        aria-hidden={this.hasLabel ? 'true' : null}
       >
-        {label === undefined ? <slot name="label"></slot> : <div class="label-text">{label}</div>}
+        {label === undefined ? (
+          <slot name="label"></slot>
+        ) : (
+          <div class="label-text" id={labelTextId}>
+            {label}
+          </div>
+        )}
       </div>
     );
   }
@@ -743,6 +758,33 @@ export class Input implements ComponentInterface {
     return this.el.querySelector('[slot="label"]');
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Ensures the slotted label element has an ID for aria-labelledby.
+   * If no ID exists, we assign one using our generated labelTextId.
+   */
+  private setSlottedLabelId() {
+    const slottedLabel = this.labelSlot;
+    if (slottedLabel && !slottedLabel.id) {
+      slottedLabel.id = this.labelTextId;
+    }
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Returns the ID to use for aria-labelledby on the native input,
+   * or undefined if aria-label is explicitly set (to avoid conflicts).
+   */
+  private getLabelledById(): string | undefined {
+    if (this.inheritedAttributes['aria-label']) {
+      return undefined;
+    }
+
+    if (this.label !== undefined) {
+      return this.labelTextId;
+    }
+
+    return this.labelSlot?.id || undefined;
+  }
+
   /**
    * Returns `true` if label content is provided
    * either by a prop or a content. If you want
@@ -898,6 +940,7 @@ export class Input implements ComponentInterface {
               onCompositionend={this.onCompositionEnd}
               aria-describedby={this.getHintTextID()}
               aria-invalid={this.isInvalid ? 'true' : undefined}
+              aria-labelledby={this.getLabelledById()}
               {...this.inheritedAttributes}
             />
             {this.clearInput && !readonly && !disabled && (

core/src/components/input/test/a11y/input.e2e.ts

@@ -57,6 +57,104 @@ configs({ directions: ['ltr'], palettes: ['light', 'dark'] }).forEach(({ title,
   });
 });
 
+configs({ directions: ['ltr'], modes: ['md'] }).forEach(({ title, config }) => {
+  test.describe(title('input: label a11y for Android TalkBack'), () => {
+    /**
+     * Android TalkBack treats visible text elements as separate focusable items.
+     * These tests verify that the label is hidden from a11y tree (aria-hidden)
+     * while remaining associated with the input via aria-labelledby.
+     */
+    test('label text wrapper should be hidden from accessibility tree when using label prop', async ({ page }) => {
+      await page.setContent(
+        `
+        <ion-input label="Email" value="test@example.com"></ion-input>
+        `,
+        config
+      );
+
+      const labelTextWrapper = page.locator('ion-input .label-text-wrapper');
+      await expect(labelTextWrapper).toHaveAttribute('aria-hidden', 'true');
+    });
+
+    test('label text wrapper should be hidden from accessibility tree when using label slot', async ({ page }) => {
+      await page.setContent(
+        `
+        <ion-input value="test@example.com">
+          <div slot="label">Email</div>
+        </ion-input>
+        `,
+        config
+      );
+
+      const labelTextWrapper = page.locator('ion-input .label-text-wrapper');
+      await expect(labelTextWrapper).toHaveAttribute('aria-hidden', 'true');
+    });
+
+    test('native input should have aria-labelledby pointing to label text when using label prop', async ({ page }) => {
+      await page.setContent(
+        `
+        <ion-input label="Email" value="test@example.com"></ion-input>
+        `,
+        config
+      );
+
+      const nativeInput = page.locator('ion-input input');
+      const labelText = page.locator('ion-input .label-text');
+
+      const labelTextId = await labelText.getAttribute('id');
+      expect(labelTextId).not.toBeNull();
+      await expect(nativeInput).toHaveAttribute('aria-labelledby', labelTextId!);
+    });
+
+    test('native input should have aria-labelledby pointing to slotted label when using label slot', async ({
+      page,
+    }) => {
+      await page.setContent(
+        `
+        <ion-input value="test@example.com">
+          <div slot="label">Email</div>
+        </ion-input>
+        `,
+        config
+      );
+
+      const nativeInput = page.locator('ion-input input');
+      const slottedLabel = page.locator('ion-input [slot="label"]');
+
+      const slottedLabelId = await slottedLabel.getAttribute('id');
+      expect(slottedLabelId).not.toBeNull();
+      await expect(nativeInput).toHaveAttribute('aria-labelledby', slottedLabelId!);
+    });
+
+    test('should not add aria-labelledby when aria-label is provided on host', async ({ page }) => {
+      await page.setContent(
+        `
+        <ion-input aria-label="Custom Label" value="test@example.com"></ion-input>
+        `,
+        config
+      );
+
+      const nativeInput = page.locator('ion-input input');
+
+      await expect(nativeInput).toHaveAttribute('aria-label', 'Custom Label');
+      await expect(nativeInput).not.toHaveAttribute('aria-labelledby');
+    });
+
+    test('should not add aria-hidden to label wrapper when no label is present', async ({ page }) => {
+      await page.setContent(
+        `
+        <ion-input aria-label="Hidden Label" value="test@example.com"></ion-input>
+        `,
+        config
+      );
+
+      const labelTextWrapper = page.locator('ion-input .label-text-wrapper');
+
+      await expect(labelTextWrapper).not.toHaveAttribute('aria-hidden', 'true');
+    });
+  });
+});
+
 configs({ directions: ['ltr'] }).forEach(({ title, config, screenshot }) => {
   test.describe(title('input: font scaling'), () => {
     test('should scale text on larger font sizes', async ({ page }) => {