HTML Form Elements

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This chapter describes all the different HTML form elements.

The HTML <form> Elements

The HTML <form> element can contain one or more of the following form elements:

<input>
<label>
<select>
<textarea>
<button>
<fieldset>
<legend>
<datalist>
<output>
<option>
<optgroup>

The <input> Element

One of the most used form elements is the <input> element.

The <input> element can be displayed in several ways, depending on the type attribute.

Example

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<body>

<h2>The input Element</h2>

<form action=”/action_page.php”>
<label for=”fname”>First name:</label><br>
<input type=”text” id=”fname” name=”fname”><br><br>
<input type=”submit” value=”Submit”>
</form>

</body>
</html>

All the different values of the type attribute are covered in the next chapter: HTML Input Types.

The <label> Element

The <label> element defines a label for several form elements.

The <label> element is useful for screen-reader users, because the screen-reader will read out loud the label when the user focus on the input element.

The <label> element also help 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.

The <select> Element

The <select> element defines a drop-down list:

Example

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<body>

<h2>The select Element</h2>

<p>The select element defines a drop-down list:</p>

<form action=”/action_page.php”>
<label for=”cars”>Choose a car:</label>
<select id=”cars” name=”cars”>
<option value=”volvo”>Volvo</option>
<option value=”saab”>Saab</option>
<option value=”fiat”>Fiat</option>
<option value=”audi”>Audi</option>
</select>
<input type=”submit”>
</form>

</body>
</html>

The <option> element defines an option that can be selected.

By default, the first item in the drop-down list is selected.

To define a pre-selected option, add the selected attribute to the option:

Example

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<body>

<h2>Pre-selected Option</h2>

<p>You can preselect an option with the selected attribute:</p>

<form action=”/action_page.php”>
<label for=”cars”>Choose a car:</label>
<select id=”cars” name=”cars”>
<option value=”volvo”>Volvo</option>
<option value=”saab”>Saab</option>
<option value=”fiat” selected>Fiat</option>
<option value=”audi”>Audi</option>
</select>
<input type=”submit”>
</form>

</body>
</html>

Visible Values:

Use the size attribute to specify the number of visible values:

Example

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<body>

<h2>Visible Option Values</h2>

<p>Use the size attribute to specify the number of visible values.</p>

<form action=”/action_page.php”>
<label for=”cars”>Choose a car:</label>
<select id=”cars” name=”cars” size=”3″>
<option value=”volvo”>Volvo</option>
<option value=”saab”>Saab</option>
<option value=”fiat”>Fiat</option>
<option value=”audi”>Audi</option>
</select><br><br>
<input type=”submit”>
</form>

</body>
</html>

Allow Multiple Selections:

Use the multiple attribute to allow the user to select more than one value:

Example

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<body>

<h2>Allow Multiple Selections</h2>

<p>Use the multiple attribute to allow the user to select more than one value.</p>

<form action=”/action_page.php”>
<label for=”cars”>Choose a car:</label>
<select id=”cars” name=”cars” size=”4″ multiple>
<option value=”volvo”>Volvo</option>
<option value=”saab”>Saab</option>
<option value=”fiat”>Fiat</option>
<option value=”audi”>Audi</option>
</select><br><br>
<input type=”submit”>
</form>

<p>Hold down the Ctrl (windows) / Command (Mac) button to select multiple options.</p>

</body>
</html>

The <textarea> Element

The <textarea> element defines a multi-line input field (a text area):

Example

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<body>

<h2>Textarea</h2>
<p>The textarea element defines a multi-line input field.</p>

<form action=”/action_page.php”>
<textarea name=”message” rows=”10″ cols=”30″>The cat was playing in the garden.</textarea>
<br><br>
<input type=”submit”>
</form>

</body>
</html>

The rows attribute specifies the visible number of lines in a text area.

The cols attribute specifies the visible width of a text area.

You can also define the size of the text area by using CSS:

Example

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<body>

<h2>Styling Textarea</h2>

<p>Use CSS to change the size of the textarea:</p>

<form action=”/action_page.php”>
<textarea name=”message” style=”width:200px; height:600px;”>The cat was playing in the garden.</textarea>
<br>
<input type=”submit”>
</form>

</body>
</html>

The <button> Element

The <button> element defines a clickable button

Example

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<body>

<h2>The button Element</h2>

<button type=”button” onclick=”alert(‘Hello World!’)”>Click Me!</button>

</body>
</html>

The <fieldset> and <legend> Elements

The <fieldset> element is used to group related data in a form.

The <legend> element defines a caption for the <fieldset> element.

Example

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<body>

<h2>Grouping Form Data with Fieldset</h2>

<p>The fieldset element is used to group related data in a form, and the legend element defines a caption for the fieldset element.</p>

<form action=”/action_page.php”>
<fieldset>
<legend>Personalia:</legend>
<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”>
</fieldset>
</form>

</body>
</html>

The <datalist> Element

The <datalist> element specifies a list of pre-defined options for an <input> element.

Users will see a drop-down list of the pre-defined options as they input data.

The list attribute of the <input> element, must refer to the id attribute of the <datalist> element.

Example

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<body>

<h2>The datalist Element</h2>

<p>The datalist element specifies a list of pre-defined options for an input element.</p>

</body>
</html>

The <output> Element

The <output> element represents the result of a calculation (like one performed by a script).

Example

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<body>

<h2>The output Element</h2>
<p>The output element represents the result of a calculation.</p>

</body>
</html>

HTML Exercises

Test Yourself With Exercises

Exercise:

In the form below, add an empty drop down list with the name “cars”.

<form action=”/action_page.php”>
<>
</>
</form>

Submit Answer

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