Forms HTML
Forms HTML
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An HTML form is used to collect user input. The user input is most often sent
to a server for processing.
Example
First name:
J ohn
Last name:
Doe
Submit
Try it Yourself »
<form>
.
form elements
.
</form>
The <form> element is a container for different types of input elements, such as:
text fields, checkboxes, radio buttons, submit buttons, etc.
All the different form elements are covered in this chapter: HTML Form
Elements.
The <input> Element
The HTML <input> element is the most used form element.
Type Description
<input type="radio"> Displays a radio button (for selecting one of many choices)
<input type="checkbox"> Displays a checkbox (for selecting zero or more of many choi
All the different input types are covered in this chapter: HTML Input Types.
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Text Fields
The <input type="text"> defines a single-line input field for text input.
Example
A form with input fields for text:
<form>
<label for="fname">First name:</label><br>
<input type="text" id="fname" name="fname"><br>
<label for="lname">Last name:</label><br>
<input type="text" id="lname" name="lname">
</form>
Try it Yourself »
First name:
Last name:
Note: The form itself is not visible. Also note that the default width of an input
field is 20 characters.
The <label> element is useful for screen-reader users, because the screen-
reader will read out loud the label when the user focuses on the input element.
The <label> element also helps users who have difficulty clicking on very small
regions (such as radio buttons or checkboxes) - because when the user clicks
the text within the <label> element, it toggles the radio button/checkbox.
The for attribute of the <label> tag should be equal to the id attribute of
the <input> element to bind them together.
Radio Buttons
The <input type="radio"> defines a radio button.
Example
A form with radio buttons:
<form>
<input type="radio" id="html" name="fav_language" value="HTML">
<label for="html">HTML</label><br>
<input type="radio" id="css" name="fav_language" value="CSS">
<label for="css">CSS</label><br>
<input type="radio" id="javascript" name="fav_language" value="Ja
vaScript">
<label for="javascript">JavaScript</label>
</form>
Try it Yourself »
HTML
CSS
JavaScript
Checkboxes
The <input type="checkbox"> defines a checkbox.
Example
A form with checkboxes:
<form>
<input type="checkbox" id="vehicle1" name="vehicle1" value="Bike"
>
<label for="vehicle1"> I have a bike</label><br>
<input type="checkbox" id="vehicle2" name="vehicle2" value="Car">
<label for="vehicle2"> I have a car</label><br>
<input type="checkbox" id="vehicle3" name="vehicle3" value="Boat"
>
<label for="vehicle3"> I have a boat</label>
</form>
Try it Yourself »
I have a bike
I have a car
I have a boat
The form-handler is typically a file on the server with a script for processing
input data.
Example
A form with a submit button:
<form action="/action_page.php">
<label for="fname">First name:</label><br>
<input type="text" id="fname" name="fname" value="John"><br>
<label for="lname">Last name:</label><br>
<input type="text" id="lname" name="lname" value="Doe"><br><br>
<input type="submit" value="Submit">
</form>
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This is how the HTML code above will be displayed in a browser:
First name:
J ohn
Last name:
Doe
Submit
If the name attribute is omitted, the value of the input field will not be sent at all.
Example
This example will not submit the value of the "First name" input field:
<form action="/action_page.php">
<label for="fname">First name:</label><br>
<input type="text" id="fname" value="John"><br><br>
<input type="submit" value="Submit">
</form>
Try it Yourself »
Exercise?
What is the correct HTML element for defining a form?
<schema>
<ff>
<form>
Submit Answer »