diff --git a/projects/ngx-coding-components/src/lib/dialogs/select-code-rule-reference-dialog.component.spec.ts b/projects/ngx-coding-components/src/lib/dialogs/select-code-rule-reference-dialog.component.spec.ts
index 7916f72..ca56434 100644
--- a/projects/ngx-coding-components/src/lib/dialogs/select-code-rule-reference-dialog.component.spec.ts
+++ b/projects/ngx-coding-components/src/lib/dialogs/select-code-rule-reference-dialog.component.spec.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,14 @@
-import { MatDialogRef } from '@angular/material/dialog';
+import { ComponentFixture, TestBed } from '@angular/core/testing';
+import { TestbedHarnessEnvironment } from '@angular/cdk/testing/testbed';
+import { MAT_DIALOG_DATA, MatDialogRef } from '@angular/material/dialog';
+import { MatSelectionListHarness } from '@angular/material/list/testing';
+import { NoopAnimationsModule } from '@angular/platform-browser/animations';
+import { TranslateLoader, TranslateModule, TranslateService } from '@ngx-translate/core';
+import { CodingFactory } from '@iqb/responses/coding-factory';
+import { CodingSchemeFactory } from '@iqb/responses';
+import { RuleSet } from '@iqbspecs/coding-scheme/coding-scheme.interface';
+import { VariableInfo } from '@iqbspecs/variable-info/variable-info.interface';
+import { NgxCodingComponentsTranslateLoader } from '../translations/ngx-coding-components.translate-loader';
 import { SelectCodeRuleReferenceDialogComponent, SelectCodeRuleReferenceDialogData }
   from './select-code-rule-reference-dialog.component';
 
@@ -54,3 +64,135 @@ describe('SelectCodeRuleReferenceDialogComponent', () => {
     expect(dialogRef.close).toHaveBeenCalledWith('ANY_OPEN');
   });
 });
+
+describe('SelectCodeRuleReferenceDialogComponent UI', () => {
+  let fixture: ComponentFixture<SelectCodeRuleReferenceDialogComponent>;
+  let dialogRef: jasmine.SpyObj<MatDialogRef<SelectCodeRuleReferenceDialogComponent>>;
+  let dialogData: SelectCodeRuleReferenceDialogData;
+
+  beforeEach(async () => {
+    dialogRef = jasmine.createSpyObj('MatDialogRef', ['close']);
+    dialogData = { isFragmentMode: false, value: 'ANY' };
+    await TestBed.configureTestingModule({
+      imports: [SelectCodeRuleReferenceDialogComponent, NoopAnimationsModule, TranslateModule.forRoot({
+        loader: { provide: TranslateLoader, useClass: NgxCodingComponentsTranslateLoader }
+      })],
+      providers: [
+        { provide: MAT_DIALOG_DATA, useValue: dialogData },
+        { provide: MatDialogRef, useValue: dialogRef }
+      ]
+    }).compileComponents();
+    TestBed.inject(TranslateService).use('de');
+  });
+
+  const renderDialog = async () => {
+    fixture = TestBed.createComponent(SelectCodeRuleReferenceDialogComponent);
+    fixture.detectChanges();
+    await fixture.whenStable();
+    fixture.detectChanges();
+    return TestbedHarnessEnvironment.loader(fixture).getHarness(MatSelectionListHarness);
+  };
+
+  const getHelp = (): HTMLElement | null => fixture.nativeElement.querySelector('#array-reference-help');
+  const save = () => fixture.nativeElement.querySelector('button[color="primary"]').click();
+
+  it('explains why an additional non-matching value prevents ANY from matching', async () => {
+    const list = await renderDialog();
+
+    expect((await list.getItems()).length).toBe(5);
+    await expectAsync((await list.getItems({ selected: true }))[0].getText())
+      .toBeResolvedTo('Alle vorhandenen Werte müssen passen');
+    expect(getHelp()?.textContent).toContain('[passend, nicht passend] → kein Treffer');
+    expect(fixture.nativeElement.querySelector('mat-selection-list').getAttribute('aria-describedby'))
+      .toBe('array-reference-help');
+
+    save();
+    expect(dialogRef.close).toHaveBeenCalledWith('ANY');
+  });
+
+  it('updates the explanation and saves ANY_OPEN when at least one value is selected', async () => {
+    const list = await renderDialog();
+    await list.selectItems({ text: 'Mindestens ein Wert muss passen' });
+
+    expect(getHelp()?.textContent).toContain('Zusätzliche nicht passende Werte sind erlaubt');
+    expect(getHelp()?.textContent).toContain('[passend, nicht passend] → Treffer');
+
+    save();
+    expect(dialogRef.close).toHaveBeenCalledWith('ANY_OPEN');
+  });
+
+  it('preserves a loaded ANY_OPEN reference when saving without changes', async () => {
+    dialogData.value = 'ANY_OPEN';
+    const list = await renderDialog();
+
+    await expectAsync((await list.getItems({ selected: true }))[0].getText())
+      .toBeResolvedTo('Mindestens ein Wert muss passen');
+    expect(getHelp()?.textContent).toContain('[passend, nicht passend] → Treffer');
+
+    save();
+    expect(dialogRef.close).toHaveBeenCalledWith('ANY_OPEN');
+  });
+
+  it('explains and preserves the empty-array exception for ANY_OPEN with IS_EMPTY', async () => {
+    dialogData.value = 'ANY_OPEN';
+    await renderDialog();
+
+    expect(getHelp()?.textContent).toContain('Mit der Regel „Leere Eingabe“ kann auch ein leeres Array []');
+    save();
+    expect(dialogRef.close).toHaveBeenCalledWith('ANY_OPEN');
+
+    const coding = CodingFactory.createCodingVariable('v1');
+    coding.codes = [{
+      id: 1,
+      type: 'FULL_CREDIT',
+      score: 1,
+      label: '',
+      ruleSets: [{
+        valueArrayPos: dialogRef.close.calls.mostRecent().args[0] as RuleSet['valueArrayPos'],
+        ruleOperatorAnd: false,
+        rules: [{ method: 'IS_EMPTY', parameters: [] }]
+      }]
+    }];
+    const varInfo: VariableInfo = {
+      id: 'v1',
+      type: 'string',
+      format: '',
+      multiple: true,
+      nullable: false,
+      values: [],
+      valuePositionLabels: []
+    };
+    expect(CodingSchemeFactory.validate([varInfo], [coding])).toEqual([]);
+
+    const empty = CodingFactory.code({ id: 'v1', value: [], status: 'VALUE_CHANGED' }, coding);
+    expect(empty.status).toBe('CODING_COMPLETE');
+    expect(empty.code).toBe(1);
+    const notEmpty = CodingFactory.code({ id: 'v1', value: ['Antwort'], status: 'VALUE_CHANGED' }, coding);
+    expect(notEmpty.status).toBe('CODING_INCOMPLETE');
+    expect(notEmpty.code).toBeUndefined();
+  });
+
+  it('labels a numeric reference as a specific position and keeps its zero-based value', async () => {
+    dialogData.value = 3;
+    const list = await renderDialog();
+
+    await expectAsync((await list.getItems({ selected: true }))[0].getText()).toBeResolvedTo('Bestimmte Position:');
+    expect(fixture.nativeElement.querySelector('input[type="number"]').value).toBe('4');
+    expect(getHelp()).toBeNull();
+
+    save();
+    expect(dialogRef.close).toHaveBeenCalledWith(3);
+  });
+
+  it('keeps the existing fragment labels without array-specific options or explanations', async () => {
+    dialogData.isFragmentMode = true;
+    const list = await renderDialog();
+
+    expect((await list.getItems()).length).toBe(2);
+    await expectAsync((await list.getItems({ selected: true }))[0].getText()).toBeResolvedTo('Irgendeines');
+    expect(getHelp()).toBeNull();
+
+    save();
+    expect(dialogRef.close).toHaveBeenCalledWith('ANY');
+  });
+});
diff --git a/projects/ngx-coding-components/src/lib/dialogs/select-code-rule-reference-dialog.component.ts b/projects/ngx-coding-components/src/lib/dialogs/select-code-rule-reference-dialog.component.ts
index a98d31c..4712d50 100644
--- a/projects/ngx-coding-components/src/lib/dialogs/select-code-rule-reference-dialog.component.ts
+++ b/projects/ngx-coding-components/src/lib/dialogs/select-code-rule-reference-dialog.component.ts
@@ -22,13 +22,17 @@ export interface SelectCodeRuleReferenceDialogData {
     <h1 mat-dialog-title>{{ (refData.isFragmentMode ? 'rule' : 'rule-set') + '.reference.title' | translate }}</h1>
     <mat-dialog-content>
       <div>{{(refData.isFragmentMode ? 'rule' : 'rule-set') + '.reference.prompt' | translate}}</div>
-      <mat-selection-list [(ngModel)]="newSelection" multiple="false">
-        <mat-list-option [value]="'ANY'">
-          {{(refData.isFragmentMode ? 'rule' : 'rule-set') + '.reference.any' | translate}}
+      <mat-selection-list [(ngModel)]="newSelection" multiple="false"
+        [attr.aria-describedby]="!refData.isFragmentMode &&
+          (newSelection[0] === 'ANY' || newSelection[0] === 'ANY_OPEN') ? 'array-reference-help' : null">
+        <mat-list-option [value]="'ANY'" class="reference-option">
+          <span class="reference-label">
+            {{(refData.isFragmentMode ? 'rule' : 'rule-set') + '.reference.any' | translate}}
+          </span>
         </mat-list-option>
         @if (!refData.isFragmentMode) {
-          <mat-list-option [value]="'ANY_OPEN'">
-            {{'rule-set.reference.any-open' | translate}}
+          <mat-list-option [value]="'ANY_OPEN'" class="reference-option">
+            <span class="reference-label">{{'rule-set.reference.any-open' | translate}}</span>
           </mat-list-option>
           <mat-list-option [value]="'SUM'">
             {{'rule-set.reference.sum' | translate}}
@@ -37,10 +41,18 @@ export interface SelectCodeRuleReferenceDialogData {
             {{'rule-set.reference.length' | translate}}
           </mat-list-option>
         }
-        <mat-list-option [value]="'specific'">
-          {{(refData.isFragmentMode ? 'rule' : 'rule-set') + '.reference.specific' | translate}}:
+        <mat-list-option [value]="'specific'" class="reference-option">
+          <span class="reference-label">
+            {{(refData.isFragmentMode ? 'rule' : 'rule-set') + '.reference.specific' | translate}}:
+          </span>
         </mat-list-option>
       </mat-selection-list>
+      @if (!refData.isFragmentMode && (newSelection[0] === 'ANY' || newSelection[0] === 'ANY_OPEN')) {
+        <p id="array-reference-help" aria-live="polite">
+          {{(newSelection[0] === 'ANY' ? 'rule-set.reference.any-help' :
+            'rule-set.reference.any-open-help') | translate}}
+        </p>
+      }
       <mat-form-field>
         <input matInput [disabled]="newSelection[0] !== 'specific'"
           [(ngModel)]="newValue"
@@ -53,6 +65,19 @@ export interface SelectCodeRuleReferenceDialogData {
       <button mat-raised-button [mat-dialog-close]="false">{{'dialog-cancel' | translate}}</button>
     </mat-dialog-actions>
     `,
+  styles: [`
+    .reference-option {
+      height: auto;
+      min-height: 48px;
+      padding-top: 8px;
+      padding-bottom: 8px;
+    }
+    .reference-label {
+      display: block;
+      white-space: normal;
+      line-height: 1.4;
+    }
+  `],
   standalone: true,
   imports: [
     MatDialogTitle, MatDialogContent, MatSelectionList, ReactiveFormsModule, FormsModule,
diff --git a/projects/ngx-coding-components/translations/de.json b/projects/ngx-coding-components/translations/de.json
index 6428339..b14374a 100644
--- a/projects/ngx-coding-components/translations/de.json
+++ b/projects/ngx-coding-components/translations/de.json
@@ -423,12 +423,14 @@
     "reference": {
       "label": "Position im Werte-Array",
       "title": "Position im Werte-Array ändern",
-      "prompt": "Die Regeln dieses Regelsatzes beziehen sich auf ein Werte-Array insgesamt (Summe, Länge), auf irgendeinen Wert oder auf einen spezifischen.",
-      "any": "Irgendeine - Strikt",
-      "any-open": "Irgendeine - Offen",
+      "prompt": "Die Regeln beziehen sich auf alle vorhandenen Werte, mindestens einen Wert, eine bestimmte Position oder auf Summe bzw. Länge des Werte-Arrays.",
+      "any": "Alle vorhandenen Werte müssen passen",
+      "any-open": "Mindestens ein Wert muss passen",
+      "any-help": "Zusätzliche nicht passende Werte verhindern einen Treffer. Beispiel: [passend, nicht passend] → kein Treffer.",
+      "any-open-help": "Zusätzliche nicht passende Werte sind erlaubt. Beispiel: [passend, nicht passend] → Treffer. Ausnahme: Mit der Regel „Leere Eingabe“ kann auch ein leeres Array [] einen Treffer ergeben.",
       "sum": "Summe",
       "length": "Länge",
-      "specific": "Spezielle"
+      "specific": "Bestimmte Position"
     }
   },
   "rule": {
diff --git a/src/assets/de.json b/src/assets/de.json
index 0f22f0a..bf62b85 100644
--- a/src/assets/de.json
+++ b/src/assets/de.json
@@ -195,11 +195,14 @@
     "reference": {
       "label": "Position im Werte-Array",
       "title": "Position im Werte-Array ändern",
-      "prompt": "Die Regeln dieses Regelsatzes beziehen sich auf ein Werte-Array insgesamt (Summe), auf irgendeinen Wert oder auf einen spezifischen.",
-      "any": "Irgendeine",
+      "prompt": "Die Regeln beziehen sich auf alle vorhandenen Werte, mindestens einen Wert, eine bestimmte Position oder auf Summe bzw. Länge des Werte-Arrays.",
+      "any": "Alle vorhandenen Werte müssen passen",
+      "any-open": "Mindestens ein Wert muss passen",
+      "any-help": "Zusätzliche nicht passende Werte verhindern einen Treffer. Beispiel: [passend, nicht passend] → kein Treffer.",
+      "any-open-help": "Zusätzliche nicht passende Werte sind erlaubt. Beispiel: [passend, nicht passend] → Treffer. Ausnahme: Mit der Regel „Leere Eingabe“ kann auch ein leeres Array [] einen Treffer ergeben.",
       "sum": "Summe",
       "length": "Länge",
-      "specific": "Spezielle"
+      "specific": "Bestimmte Position"
     }
   },
   "rule": {
diff --git a/src/assets/en.json b/src/assets/en.json
index e5ef891..0582ce0 100644
--- a/src/assets/en.json
+++ b/src/assets/en.json
@@ -1,4 +1,18 @@
 {
+  "rule-set": {
+    "reference": {
+      "label": "Position in the value array",
+      "title": "Change position in the value array",
+      "prompt": "The rules apply to all existing values, at least one value, a specific position, or the sum or length of the value array.",
+      "any": "All existing values must match",
+      "any-open": "At least one value must match",
+      "any-help": "Additional non-matching values prevent a match. Example: [matching, non-matching] → no match.",
+      "any-open-help": "Additional non-matching values are allowed. Example: [matching, non-matching] → match. Exception: With the “Empty input” rule, an empty array [] can also match.",
+      "sum": "Sum",
+      "length": "Length",
+      "specific": "Specific position"
+    }
+  },
   "derive-method": {
     "label": "Derivation method",
     "prompt": "Derivation method",