How does a radio button function when selected?

A radio button is designed to allow users to select only one option from a predefined set of choices. When a radio button is selected, it functions by deactivating all other buttons within the same group. This ensures that the user can only make one choice at a time, which is particularly useful when multiple options are available, but only one can logically be chosen. This characteristic is essential for forms and surveys where a single answer is required, making it clear that the selection of one option excludes the others. Thus, in scenarios with multiple radio buttons related to the same question or category, only the selected button remains active, allowing the user to understand which option they have chosen clearly.