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What's new?
What’s Changed
- Gitignore: add worktrees and generated files by @danbrady in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/6022
- Figma links: migrate component examples to component library pages by @danbrady in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/6020
- chore: update releases for Sprint 25 by @humancompanion-usds in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/6035
- Bump brace-expansion from 1.1.12 to 1.1.13 by @dependabot[bot] in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/6040
- Replace va-additional-info with va-details by @babsdenney in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/6036
- Adds latest metrics, fixes content for new component, fixes skill, and content prompt by @humancompanion-usds in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/6054
- Multiple response: Update multiple response documentation by @eileen-coforma in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/6043
- Files: Updates usage guidance to include multiple file uploads by @eileen-coforma in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/5878
- Enhance mobile components with tabs and guidance updates by @danbrady in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/6046
- 📊 Update metrics dashboard data - 2026-04-03 by @humancompanion-usds in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/6066
- 📊 Update pattern adherence data - 2026-04-06 by @humancompanion-usds in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/6070
- Improve development workflow in README and package.json by @danbrady in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/6079
- Clarify when the minimal form header and footer should be used by @jeana-adhoc in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/6037
- Bump addressable from 2.8.7 to 2.9.0 in the bundler group across 1 directory by @dependabot[bot] in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/6078
- Bump lodash from 4.17.23 to 4.18.1 by @dependabot[bot] in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/6081
- Update updating prefill guidance by @jeana-adhoc in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/6077
- Update page-titles-and-section-titles.md: Fixed intro text and added … by @laurenvocke-va in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/5947
- Add DS Sprint Plan Template for internal use by @caw310 in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/6002
- Update pattern link formatting and improve consistency by @danbrady in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/6106
- 📊 Update metrics dashboard data - 2026-04-10 by @humancompanion-usds in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/6117
Full Changelog: https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/compare/Sprint-25…Sprint-26
What’s Changed
- 📊 Update pattern adherence data - 2026-03-16 by @humancompanion-usds in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/5904
- Details: Update details.md with new width examples by @babsdenney in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/5896
- Refactor content style guide prompt to wrap instructions files by @humancompanion-usds in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/5907
- 📊 Update metrics dashboard data - 2026-03-13 by @humancompanion-usds in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/5902
- Create february-2026.md: Adding file for Feb 2026 content updates by @laurenvocke-va in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/5831
- Update whats-new.md: Updating to Feb 2026 content updates by @laurenvocke-va in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/5933
- Update whats-new.md: Adding Feb 2026 updates, removing Aug 2025 by @laurenvocke-va in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/5934
- Bump json from 2.18.0 to 2.19.2 in the bundler group across 1 directory by @dependabot[bot] in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/5941
- Details: Update Figma link for Details component by @babsdenney in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/5936
- Update prefilled information: Remove error summary from error state by @eileen-coforma in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/5935
- design.va.gov: Add dependabot and check VADS packages by @danbrady in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/5952
- Bump the va-design-system-libraries group with 2 updates by @dependabot[bot] in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/5955
- Add component bug metrics to dashboard by @humancompanion-usds in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/5931
- chore: update releases for Sprint 24 by @humancompanion-usds in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/5956
- fix: metrics dashboard JS errors in Safari (missing _commonjsHelpers) by @humancompanion-usds in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/5958
- Fixes a typo and other cleanup by @jeana-adhoc in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/5944
- Create readability-and-usability.md: Adding new style guide page for … by @laurenvocke-va in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/5856
- 📊 Update metrics dashboard data - 2026-03-20 by @humancompanion-usds in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/5964
- Bump picomatch from 2.3.1 to 2.3.2 by @dependabot[bot] in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/6016
- Bump @department-of-veterans-affairs/css-library from 0.31.0 to 0.31.1 in the va-design-system-libraries group by @dependabot[bot] in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/6001
- Details: Update va-details trigger to label attribute by @babsdenney in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/6004
- Apply plain language improvements to Details component guidance by @jeana-adhoc in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/6017
- 📊 Update metrics dashboard data - 2026-03-27 by @humancompanion-usds in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/6032
Full Changelog: https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/compare/Sprint-24…Sprint-25
What’s Changed
- Sort: Post-staging review changes by @derekwang99 in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/5787
- Update capitalization.md: Fixing formatting issue by @laurenvocke-va in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/5832
- 📊 Update metrics dashboard data - 2026-02-27 by @humancompanion-usds in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/5822
- 📊 Update pattern adherence data - 2026-03-02 by @humancompanion-usds in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/5825
- Update bulleted-lists.md: Adding ordering considerations by @laurenvocke-va in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/5796
- Update index.md: Adding slim alert length guidance by @laurenvocke-va in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/5795
- Bump tar from 7.5.7 to 7.5.8 in the npm_and_yarn group across 1 directory by @dependabot[bot] in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/5756
- Update punctuation.md: Adding guidance on parentheses by @laurenvocke-va in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/5797
- File Input: Update guidance for multiple files with additional fields by @danbrady in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/5812
- Update sign-in-and-identity-verification.md: Updates to verify defini… by @laurenvocke-va in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/5800
- Update 00_word-list.md: Adding new entries and updating current entries by @laurenvocke-va in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/5802
- Update payments-and-debts.md: Updating balance definition by @laurenvocke-va in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/5803
- Bump nokogiri from 1.19.0 to 1.19.1 in the bundler group across 1 directory by @dependabot[bot] in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/5757
- Fix data-driven Mermaid generator to emit correct node shapes per type by @Copilot in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/5854
- Create va-website-organization.md: Adding new page for website organi… by @laurenvocke-va in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/5830
- va-details: Update details.md to comment out Storybook preview by @babsdenney in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/5837
- Skill: Adds a skill for merging PRs by @humancompanion-usds in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/5834
- component-library v56.1.0 by @ediiotero in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/5860
- Bump tar from 7.5.8 to 7.5.10 in the npm_and_yarn group across 1 directory by @dependabot[bot] in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/5857
- Add agentic workflow daily-repo-status by @humancompanion-usds in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/5861
- Copilot instructions: Add PR review instructions for components by @humancompanion-usds in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/5858
- Bump jekyll-sass-converter & css-library and their impact on site styles by @danbrady in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/5863
- chore: update releases for Sprint 23 by @humancompanion-usds in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/5826
- Sanitize GitHub release body HTML to prevent XSS in What’s New page by @Copilot in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/5875
- fix: commit ds-components CSV to _data/metrics alongside component-usage.json by @humancompanion-usds in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/5760
- 📊 Update metrics dashboard data - 2026-03-06 by @humancompanion-usds in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/5865
- What’s New: Fix accessibility, URL double-wrapping, and empty sidebar layout by @Copilot in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/5877
- Load all components in preview environment by @danbrady in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/5884
- Link: Update guidance for when to open a link in a new tab by @babsdenney in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/5852
- Add agentic workflow mergefest by @humancompanion-usds in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/5871
- Updates workflow lock files. by @humancompanion-usds in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/5893
- Whats New: Use tab layout by @danbrady in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/5870
- Bump tar from 7.5.10 to 7.5.11 in the npm_and_yarn group across 1 directory by @dependabot[bot] in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/5892
- Form pattern adherence improvements and display by @humancompanion-usds in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/5882
New Contributors
- @ediiotero made their first contribution in https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/pull/5860
Full Changelog: https://va.ghe.com/software/vets-design-system-documentation/compare/Sprint-23…Sprint-24
What’s Changed
| Component | Summary | API Change | Rendered markup change |
|---|---|---|---|
| va-file-input, va-file-input-multiple | Updates va-file-input and va-file-input-multiple to support the existing behavior for encrypted file passwords (event emission on change of nested va-text-input for password) and the new pattern that includes a submit button for the inputted password. By @RyanMunsch #2027 | Yes | Yes |
| Dependency update | Bumps flatted from 3.3.3 to 3.4.1 in the npm_and_yarn group. By @dependabot #2033 | No | No |
| Component guidance tags | Backfills guidanceHref on top-level web components and adds lint enforcement to prevent future omissions. By @humancompanion-usds #2036 | No | No |
| va-file-input-multiple Storybook | Removes stringified passwordSubmissionSuccessList state value in the EncryptedTemplate from rendered output. I was using this value to debug template validation logic. By @RyanMunsch #2042 | No | Yes |
| va-telephone-input | Updates the va-telephone-input component to be compatible with the form-system such that errors are properly set on the component. By @it-harrison #2028 | No | Yes |
| CSS-Library: mega-menu | Changes mega-menu overflow from scroll to auto to remove unnecessary scrollbar behavior. By @powellkerry #2048 | No | Yes |
| va-date, va-file-input-multiple, va-file-input, va-memorable-date, va-telephone-input, va-text-input | Makes changes to various interactive input components to normalize label bold styles based on the components’ error states. Labels should be bold when there is an error present. By @RyanMunsch #2041 | No | Yes |
| Revert - Stencil/puppeteer upgrade | Reverts stencil and puppeteer upgrade due to runtime/modal issues, with follow-up tracked separately. By @powellkerry #2049 | No | No |
| va-on-this-page | Update va-on-this-page to add a prop to exclude h2s that match heading selectors. Update utils to add a function to normalize string arrays so that the react binding is not necessary to use the prop. By @powellkerry #2043 | Yes | Yes |
Full Changelog: https://va.ghe.com/software/component-library/compare/v56.2.1…v56.3.0
What’s Changed
| Component | Summary | API Change | Rendered markup change |
|---|---|---|---|
| dashboard | App columns are now sorted alphabetically so the CSV schema is identical every run, regardless of filesystem traversal order. Added a dedicated pattern for single-letter-suffix forms. By @humancompanion-usds #2035 | No | No |
| es-lint | ESLint 9 config converted. For compatibility with ESLint 9, the config files were converted to ES module flat config format. By @jamigibbs #2039 | No | No |
| va-modal | Patch for allowing string versions of “false” for the visible prop. By @powellkerry #2037 | No | No |
Full Changelog: https://va.ghe.com/software/component-library/compare/v56.2.0…v56.2.1
What’s Changed
New Features & Components 🎉
| Component | Summary | API Change | Rendered markup change |
|---|---|---|---|
| va-details | Add new component. By @RyanMunsch #2015 | Yes | Yes |
| Architecture Upgrade | Upgrades puppeteer@24.37.2 and stencil/core@4.43.2 By @powellkerry #2008 | No | No |
| Dependabot Upgrades | Security upgrades. By @amyleadem & @powellkerry #2026, #2032 | No | No |
| va-file-upload | The original content select was a va-select with an inert attribute. Updated to a dl. A screen reader should be able to read the content now. By @ediiotero #2020 | No | No |
| va-button | Fixed the va-button when using it to submit a form. The onClick will now fire first before the onSubmit. By @ediiotero #2023 | No | No |
| CSS-Library - Mega Menu | Updated mega-menu css-library styles to allow large font size users to be able to see all links and content in the va.gov navigation menus. By @powellkerry #2022 | No | No |
| va-on-this-page | Filters out sr-only content and invisible elements from the generated link text. By @powellkerry #2022 | No | No |
Full Changelog: https://va.ghe.com/software/component-library/compare/v56.1.0…v56.2.0
March 2026
Content style guide
Bulleted and numbered lists
Added guidance on what to consider when ordering bulleted lists:
Bulleted lists generally don’t need to be in a specific order. But in some cases, you may want to consider ordering the list based on the type of list items.
Grouping like items
Some lists may include sets of similar items. For example, a list of documents may include some documents related to education, some for personal information, and some for financial information. In this case, group each set of similar items together in the list.
Order of importance or level of urgency
In some lists, certain items may be more important or urgent than others. In this case, order the list with the most important or urgent item first. Consider a numbered list if appropriate for the content.
Numerical
In lists of dates, dollar values, percentages, or other numerical values, it may make sense to order the list from either high to low or low to high.
Alphabetical
Use alphabetical order for lists of certain items, like medications or specific locations, that don’t have another natural order. But don’t default to alphabetical order for all lists.
Punctuation and formatting
Added guidance on parentheses:
When to use parentheses
- For short examples within a sentence
- To set off brief additional information (an aside) that helps readers understand the sentence, the context, or a specific word or phrase
- To introduce an acronym or abbreviation
- To add a VA form number after the form title
When not to use parentheses
Consider making the parenthetical a separate sentence in these cases:
- If the parenthetical is a full sentence on its own
- If the parenthetical is long or makes the sentence harder to understand
Plurals
Don’t use “(s),” “(es),” or “(ies)” at the end of a word to show a possible plural. Screen readers don’t announce the parenthetical in a way that people can easily understand. Instead, use the plural version of the word. You can also reword the sentence to use “any” before the plural to mean 1 or multiple.
Payments and debts
Updated the definition for balance:
balance
Use “balance” when you refer to the total amount owed for copay bills or overpayment debt.
Like this: Pay your full balance or request help by the due date on your collection letter or billing statement.
Readability and usability of VA digital content
Added this new page to the style guide. This page explains our approach to ensuring digital content is easy to find, understand, and use. And it explains our approach to readability scores.
Sign in and identity verification
- Added information on ID.me to the first Considerations bullet:
ID.me provides more flexibility for identity verification for Veterans in certain situations, such as living outside the U.S.
- Updated the identity verification and verify your identity definition to specify that ID.me and Login.gov are accounts. And added information to the note about using “confirm” or “confirmation” when asking someone to check information they provided on a form (like a mailing or email address).
Word list
Updated these entries:
- verify and verification: Specified that ID.me and Login.gov are accounts
- Veterans Service Organization (VSO): Fixed typo
Added these new entries:
balance
Use “balance” when you refer to the total amount owed for copay bills or overpayment debt.
Like this: Pay your full balance or request help by the due date on your collection letter or billing statement.
community care
Lowercase.
confirm or confirmation
Use “confirm” or “confirmation” when asking a person to check the information they provided on a form or application, like an email address or mailing address. Avoid using the terms “verify” or “verification” in this context. We only use the terms “verify” and “verification” to describe the initial, one-time process of verifying your identity with an ID.me or Login.gov account.
discharge status (character of discharge)
The discharge statuses are honorable, general, medical, other than honorable, bad conduct, dishonorable, officer, and entry-level separation. If you’re grouping multiple statuses together, list each status.
- Like this: You may qualify for these benefits if you have an honorable, general, or medical discharge.
- Like this: You may qualify for these benefits if you have an honorable, general, or medical discharge. If you have a different discharge type, you may still qualify for some benefits.
- Like this: If you have an other than honorable or bad conduct discharge, you may still qualify for some benefits.
MOVE! Weight Management Program for Veterans
MOVE! is all capital letters, with an exclamation point at the end. There’s no space between the “E” and the exclamation point. MOVE! isn’t an acronym. After the first mention of the full formal program name, we can use “MOVE!” for all other mentions.
Components
Alert
- Added guidance on slim alert length:
Keep slim alerts to 100 characters (with spaces) when possible. If you have a slim alert that’s longer than 100 characters, contact the VA.gov content and IA team. The team will work with you to edit the alert or determine if we need to make an exception (up to 150 characters).
- Made edits to the Content considerations to align with the style guide.
IA
VA website organization
This new section explains how and why we organize content on the main VA.gov website and key subdomains.