HTML <form> Tag
ExampleA simple HTML form with two input fields and one submit button:
Try it yourself » (more examples at the bottom of this page) |
Definition and Usage
The <form> tag is used to create an HTML form for user input.
A form can contain input elements like text fields, checkboxes, radio-buttons, submit buttons and more. A form can also contain select menus, textarea, fieldset, legend, and label elements.
Forms are used to pass data to a server.
Browser Support
IE FireFox Opera Google Chrome SafariThe <form> tag is supported in all major browsers.
Differences Between HTML and XHTML
In XHTML, the name attribute of the <form> tag is deprecated, and will be removed. Use the id attribute instead.
Tips and Notes
Note: The form element is a block-level element, and creates a line break before and after itself.
Required Attributes
DTD indicates in which HTML 4.01/XHTML 1.0 DTD the attribute is allowed. S=Strict, T=Transitional, and F=Frameset.
Attribute | Value | Description | DTD |
---|---|---|---|
action | URL | Specifies where to send the form-data when a form is submitted | STF |
Optional Attributes
Attribute | Value | Description | DTD |
---|---|---|---|
accept | MIME_type | Specifies the types of files that can be submitted through a file upload | STF |
accept-charset | charset | Specifies the character-sets the server can handle for form-data | STF |
enctype | application/x-www-form-urlencoded multipart/form-data text/plain | Specifies how form-data should be encoded before sending it to a server | STF |
method | get post | Specifies how to send form-data | STF |
name | name | Specifies the name for a form | TF |
target | _blank _self _parent _top framename | Deprecated. Specifies where to open the action URL | TF |
Standard Attributes
The <form> tag supports the following standard attributes:
Attribute | Value | Description | DTD |
---|---|---|---|
class | classname | Specifies a classname for an element | STF |
dir | rtl ltr | Specifies the text directionfor the content in an element | STF |
id | id | Specifies a unique id for an element | STF |
lang | language_code | Specifies a language code for the content in an element | STF |
style | style_definition | Specifies an inline style for an element | STF |
title | text | Specifies extra information about an element | STF |
xml:lang | language_code | Specifies a language code for the content in an element, in XHTML documents | STF |
More information about Standard Attributes.
Event Attributes
The <form> tag supports the following event attributes:
Attribute | Value | Description | DTD |
---|---|---|---|
onclick | script | Script to be run on a mouse click | STF |
ondblclick | script | Script to be run on a mouse double-click | STF |
onmousedown | script | Script to be run when mouse button is pressed | STF |
onmousemove | script | Script to be run when mouse pointer moves | STF |
onmouseout | script | Script to be run when mouse pointer moves out of an element | STF |
onmouseover | script | Script to be run when mouse pointer moves over an element | STF |
onmouseup | script | Script to be run when mouse button is released | STF |
onkeydown | script | Script to be run when a key is pressed | STF |
onkeypress | script | Script to be run when a key is pressed and released | STF |
onkeyup | script | Script to be run when a key is released | STF |
onreset | script | Script to be run when a form is reset | |
onsubmit | script | Script to be run when a form is submitted |
More information about Event Attributes.