Html forms tutorial

February 6, 2008
A web form, or html form, is an element of a webpage allowing users to enter input. This user input may take many forms such as an input field, a text area field, pull-down menus, check boxes, or radio buttons. The basic command for setting up a form in html is the same, regardless of the user input type being used.

HTML FORM COMMAND
The basic command for any html form is:
<form> <input> <input> </form>

FORM INPUT ATTRIBUTES: TEXT
The basic command to setup an input field for an html form is by using the 'input' tag. The type of input allowed may be specified with various attributes. The first type of attribute is the type="text". Example:

<form> <input type="text" name="username"> <input type="text" name="userid"> </form>

FORM INPUT ATTRIBUTES: CHECKBOX
A checkbox can be used if you wish the user to select from one or more options. Use the 'value' tag to assign a value to each checkbox item field. An example of the 'checkbox' attribute is:

<form> <input type="checkbox" name="favoritecolors" value="blue">Blue <input type="checkbox" name="favoritecolors" value="green">Green </form>

FORM INPUT ATTRIBUTES: RADIO BUTTON
A radio button is similar to a checkbox, except that only one selection can be made from a list. For instance, if you wish a user to select either 'yes' or 'no' then a radio button restricts the user to select either 'yes' or 'no', not both. An example of a radio button command is:

<form> <input type="radio" name="Agree" value="Yes">Yes <input type="radio" name="Agree" value="No">No </form>

FORM INPUT ATTRIBUTES: PULL DOWN MENU
A radio button is similar to a checkbox, except that only one selection can be made from a list. For instance, if you wish a user to select either 'yes' or 'no' then a radio button restricts the user to select either 'yes' or 'no', not both. An example of a radio button command is:

<form> <select name="Agree"> <option value="Yes">Yes</option> <option value="No">No</option> </select> </form>

FORM ACTION: SUBMIT BUTTON
In order for the user to "submit" the form there must be an input type with the "submit" tag. This tag allows the user to click to submit the form for further processing or emailing. No matter which type of input you use ( eg. radio button, text, etc ) at the bottom of your form be sure to have a 'submit' tag or else the user won't be able to send the information. An example of this tag is:

<form name="customerform" action="acceptdata.cfm" method="post"> <input type="text" name="username"> <input type="text" name="userid"> <input type="submit" value="submit"> </form>

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