HTML Input form* Attributes

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

The input form attribute specifies the form the <input> element belongs to.

element it belongs to.

An input field located outside of the HTML form (but still a part of the form): <form action="/action_page.php" id="form1"> <label for="fname">First name:</label> <input type="text" id="fname" name="fname"><br><br> <input type="submit" value="Submit"> </form> <label for="lname">Last name:</label> <input type="text" id="lname" name="lname" form="form1">

The input formaction attribute specifies the URL of the file that will process the input when the form is submitted.

This attribute overrides the action attribute of the <form> element. The formaction attribute works with the following input types: submit and image.

An HTML form with two submit buttons, with different actions: <form action="/action_page.php"> <label for="fname">First name:</label> <input type="text" id="fname" name="fname"><br><br> <label for="lname">Last name:</label> <input type="text" id="lname" name="lname"><br><br> <input type="submit" value="Submit"> <input type="submit" formaction="/action_page2.php" value="Submit as Admin"> </form>

The input formenctype attribute specifies how the form-data should be encoded when submitted (only for forms with method="post").

This attribute overrides the enctype attribute of the <form> element. The formenctype attribute works with the following input types: submit and image.

A form with two submit buttons. The first sends the form-data with default encoding, the second sends the form-data encoded as "multipart/form-data": <form action="/action_page_binary.asp" method="post"> <label for="fname">First name:</label> <input type="text" id="fname" name="fname"><br><br> <input type="submit" value="Submit"> <input type="submit"

value="Submit as

</form>

This attribute overrides the method attribute of the <form> element. The formmethod attribute works with the following input types: submit and image.

Notes on the "get" method:

This method is useful for form submissions where a user want to bookmark the result There is a limit to how much data you can place in a URL (varies between browsers), therefore, you cannot be sure that all of the form-data will be correctly transferred Never use the "get" method to pass sensitive information! (password or other sensitive information will be visible in the browser's address bar) Notes on the "post" method:

Form submissions with the "post" method cannot be bookmarked The "post" method is more robust and secure than "get", and "post" does not have size limitations

A form with two submit buttons. The first sends the form-data with method="get". The second sends the form-data with method="post": <form action="/action_page.php" method="get"> <label for="fname">First name:</label> <input type="text" id="fname" name="fname"><br><br> <label for="lname">Last name:</label> <input type="text" id="lname" name="lname"><br><br> <input type="submit" value="Submit using GET"> <input type="submit" formmethod="post" value="Submit using POST"> </form>

The input formtarget attribute specifies a name or a keyword that indicates where to display the response that is received after submitting the form.

This attribute overrides the target attribute of the <form> element. The formtarget attribute works with the following input types: submit and image.

A form with two submit buttons, with different target windows: <form action="/action_page.php"> <label for="fname">First name:</label> <input type="text" id="fname" name="fname"><br><br> <label for="lname">Last name:</label> <input type="text" id="lname" name="lname"><br><br> <input type="submit" value="Submit">

</form>

This attribute overrides the novalidate attribute of the <form> element. The formnovalidate attribute works with the following input types: submit.

A form with two submit buttons (with and without validation): <form action="/action_page.php"> <label for="email">Enter your email:</label> <input type="email" id="email" name="email"><br><br> <input type="submit" value="Submit"> <input type="submit" formnovalidate="formnovalidate" value="Submit without validation"> </form>

<form> attribute.

<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" value="Submit"> </form>

<form>