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HTML Input form* Attributes

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

The form Attribute​

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

The value of this attribute must be equal to the id attribute of the <form> element it belongs to.

Example of 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 formaction Attribute​

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

note

This attribute overrides the action attribute of the <form> element.

The formaction attribute works with the following input types: submit and image.

Example of 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 formenctype Attribute​

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

Note: This attribute overrides the enctype attribute of the <form> element.

The formenctype attribute works with the following input types: submit and image.

Example of 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.php" 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" formenctype="multipart/form-data"  
	value="Submit as Multipart/form-data">  
</form>

The formmethod Attribute​

The input formmethod attribute defines the HTTP method for sending form-data to the action URL.

note

This attribute overrides the method attribute of the <form> element.

The formmethod attribute works with the following input types: submit and image.

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

Notes on the "get" method
  • This method appends the form-data to the URL in name/value pairs
  • 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
  • This method sends the form-data as an HTTP post transaction
  • 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

Example of 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 formtarget Attribute​

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

note

This attribute overrides the target attribute of the <form> element.

The formtarget attribute works with the following input types: submit and image.

Example of 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">  
	<input type="submit" formtarget="_blank" value="Submit to a new window/tab">  
</form>

The formnovalidate Attribute​

The input formnovalidate attribute specifies that an <input> element should not be validated when submitted.

note

This attribute overrides the novalidate attribute of the <form> element.

The formnovalidate attribute works with the following input types: submit.

Example of 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>

The novalidate Attribute​

The novalidate attribute is a <form> attribute.

When present, novalidate specifies that all the form-data should not be validated when submitted.

Example: Specify that no form-data should be validated on submit.

<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>

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