The Form element is used to delimit a data input form. There can be several forms in a single document, but the Form element cannot be nested. (i.e. a form cannot contain another form)
<FORM ACTION="_URL_" METHOD="GET|POST"
ENCTYPE="MIME type">
The ACTION attribute is a URL specifying the location to which the contents of
the form data fields are submitted to elicit a response. As mentioned before,
this could be simply a direction to an e-mail address, but generally, would be
used to point towards some kind of server based CGI script/application that
handles the forwarding of form data. If the ACTION attribute is missing, the URL
of the document itself is assumed. The way data is submitted varies with the
access protocol of the URL to which the form data is sent and with the values of
the METHOD and ENCTYPE attributes.
Generally, the METHOD attribute specifies a method of accessing the URL specified in the ACTION attribute and will be either GET or POST. The GET method is ideal for form submission where the use of the form data does not require external processing. For example, with database searches, there is no lasting effect caused by the query of the form (that is, the query runs its search through the database and reports the results). However, where the form is used to provide information for example, that updates a database, then the POST method should be used, with the ACTION attribute pointing to a CGI script that executes the form data processing.
The ENCTYPE specifies the media type used to encode the form data. The default ENCTYPE is the MIME type 'application/x-www-form-urlencoded'
The <FORM> element can also accept the TARGET attribute (as in <A> elements), to specify what window is used for any form feedback. It can take the following values :
window_name
The name of any window specified by a <FRAME> element, or by using the
window.open scripting method. If a window_name is used which does not correlate
to a previously defined window, then a new window is created and NAMED according
the the window name used in the TARGET attribute. This new window can then be
referenced using its new name.
_self
Using this reserved keyword value, would cause any form feedback page to be
loaded into the window that currently contains the form.
_parent
Using this reserved keyword value, would cause any form feedback page to be
loaded into the window that is the parent of the window currently containing the
form. i.e. if the form's window is part of a framed document, it would load into
the window controlled by the <FRAMESET> element definitions that control the
form's current window.
_top
Using the reserved keyword value would cause the form feedback page to be
loaded into the topmost window, clearing any currently existing framed windows.
_blank
Using this reserved keyword value would cause the form feedback page to be
loaded into a newly created window. Using this value is the same as using TARGET="window_name"
where the window_name used is not a previously defined window. NOTE: Unlike
using the window_name using a previously undefined window name, using _blank
will not name the new window for future use.
The <FORM> can also take the NAME attribute, which can be used to set the name
of the element for scripting purposes.
The Input element represents a field whose contents may be edited or activated by the user.
Attributes of the Input element:
ALIGN
Vertical alignment of the image. For use only with
TYPE=IMAGE in HTML level 2. The possible values are exactly the same as for the
ALIGN attribute of the <IMG ...> element.
CHECKED
Indicates that a checkbox or radio button is selected.
Unselected checkboxes and radio buttons do not return name/value pairs when the
form is submitted.
MAXLENGTH
Indicates the maximum number of characters that can be
entered into a text field. This can be greater than specified by the SIZE
attribute, in which case the field will scroll appropriately. The default number
of characters is unlimited.
NAME
Symbolic name used when transferring the form's contents.
The NAME attribute is required for most input types and is normally used to
provide a unique identifier for a field, or for a logically related group of
fields. The name given to the element can also be used to reference it for
scripting purposes.
SIZE
Specifies the size or precision of the field according to
its type. For example, to specify a field with a visible width of 24 characters:
INPUT TYPE="text" SIZE="24"
SRC
To be used with the TYPE=IMAGE , this attribute represents a URL specifying an
the desired image.
TYPE
Defines the type of data the field accepts. Defaults to free text. Several
types of fields can be defined with the type attribute:
BUTTON: This can be used to embed buttons directly into HTML documents, that add functionality when used in conjunction with Visual Basic Script, or JavaScript. The NAME attribute is used to give the button a unique name, which can be used to set its function in the script. The VALUE attribute specifies the text that is displayed on the button in the document.
CHECKBOX: Used for simple Boolean attributes (where a field will be chosen, or not), or for attributes that can take multiple values at the same time. The latter is represented by a number of checkbox fields each of which has the same name. Each selected checkbox generates a separate name/value pair in the submitted data, even if this results in duplicate names. The default value for checkboxes is "on". It requires the NAME and VALUE attributes, optional attributes being CHECKED.
HIDDEN: With this input type, no field is presented to the user, but the content of the field is sent with the submitted form. This value may be used to transmit state information about client/server interaction.
IMAGE: An image field upon which you can click with a pointing device, causing the form to be immediately submitted. The co-ordinates of the selected point are measured in pixel units from the upper-left corner of the image, and are returned (along with the other contents of the form) in two name/value pairs. The x-co-ordinate is submitted under the name of the field with .x appended, and the y- co-ordinate is submitted under the name of the field with .y appended. The NAME attribute is required. The image itself is specified by the SRC attribute, exactly as for the Image element.
PASSWORD: is the same as the
TEXT attribute, except that text is not displayed as it is entered.
RADIO: is used for attributes that accept
a single value from a set of alternatives. Each radio button field in the group
should be given the same name. Only the selected radio button in the group
generates a name/value pair in the submitted data. Radio buttons require an
explicit VALUE and NAME attribute. CHECKED is an optional attribute and can be
used to specify which options are selected for initial form display.
RESET: is a button that when pressed resets the form's fields to their specified initial values. The label to be displayed on the button may be specified just as for the SUBMIT button.
SUBMIT: is a button that when pressed submits the form. You can use the VALUE attribute to provide a non- editable label to be displayed on the button. The default label is browser-specific. If a SUBMIT button is pressed in order to submit the form, and that button has a NAME attribute specified, then that button contributes a name/value pair to the submitted data. Otherwise, a SUBMIT button makes no contribution to the submitted data.
TEXT: is used for a single line text entry fields. It should be used in conjunction with the SIZE and MAXLENGTH attributes to set the maximum amount of text that can be entered. For textual input that requires multiple lines, the <TEXTAREA> element for text fields which can accept multiple lines. Explicit VALUE and NAME attributes are also required.
TEXTAREA: is used for multiple-line text-entry fields. Use in conjunction with the SIZE and MAXLENGTH attributes. It is better to use the <TEXTAREA> element for such text entry boxes.
FILE: is used with forms of ENCTYPE "multipart/form-data".
This allows the inclusion of files with form information, which could prove
invaluable for example, for companies providing technical support, or service
providers, requesting data files.
VALUE
When used with TYPE= ... attributes, this attribute sets the initial displayed
value of the field if it displays a textual or numerical value. If the TYPE= ...
attribute is one which only allows Boolean values (i.e. chosen, or not chosen)
then this specifies the value to be returned when the field is selected.