HTML Form Attributes

This chapter describes the different attributes for the HTML <form> element.

The Action Attribute

The action attribute defines the action to be performed when the form is submitted.

Usually, the form data is sent to a file on the server when the user clicks on the submit button.

In the example below, the form data is sent to a file called “action_page.php”. This file contains a server-side script that handles the form data:

Example

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<body>

<h2>HTML Forms</h2>

<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>

<p>If you click the “Submit” button, the form-data will be sent to a page called “/action_page.php”.</p>

</body>
</html>

The Method Attribute

The method attribute specifies the HTTP method to be used when submitting the form data.

The form-data can be sent as URL variables (with method="get") or as HTTP post transaction (with method="post").

The default HTTP method when submitting form data is GET.

Example

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<body>

<h2>HTML Forms</h2>

<p>If you click the “Submit” button, the form-data will be sent to a page called “/action_page.php”.</p>

</body>
</html>

Example

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<body>

<h2>The method Attribute</h2>

<p>This form will be submitted using the POST method:</p>

<form action=”/action_page.php” target=”_blank” method=”post”>
<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>

<p>After you submit, notice that, unlike the GET method, the form values is NOT visible in the address bar of the new browser tab.</p>

</body>
</html>

Notes on GET:

Appends the form data to the URL, in name/value pairs
NEVER use GET to send sensitive data! (the submitted form data is visible in the URL!)
The length of a URL is limited (2048 characters)
Useful for form submissions where a user wants to bookmark the result
GET is good for non-secure data, like query strings in Google

Notes on POST:

Appends the form data inside the body of the HTTP request (the submitted form data is not shown in the URL)
POST has no size limitations, and can be used to send large amounts of data.
Form submissions with POST cannot be bookmarked

The Autocomplete Attribute

The autocomplete attribute specifies whether a form should have autocomplete on or off.

When autocomplete is on, the browser automatically complete values based on values that the user has entered before.

Example

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<body>

<h2>The method Attribute</h2>

<p>This form will be submitted using the POST method:</p>

<p>After you submit, notice that, unlike the GET method, the form values is NOT visible in the address bar of the new browser tab.</p>

</body>
</html>

The Novalidate Attribute

The novalidate attribute is a boolean attribute.

When present, it specifies that the form-data (input) should not be validated when submitted.

Example

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<body>

<h1>The form novalidate attribute</h1>

<p>The novalidate attribute indicates that the form input is not to be validated on submit:</p>

<form action=”/action_page.php” novalidate>
<label for=”email”>Enter your email:</label>
<input type=”email” id=”email” name=”email”><br><br>
<input type=”submit”>
</form>

</body>
</html>

HTML Exercises

Test Yourself With Exercises

Exercise:

Add a submit button, and specify that the form should go to “/action_page.php”.

<form =”/action_page.php”>
Name: <input type=”text” name=”name”>
<>
</form>

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