HTML Forms

📄 HTML Forms Overview

HTML Forms are used to collect user input. They allow users to enter data that can be submitted to a server for processing or validated on the client side.

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🔧 1. Basic Form Syntax

An HTML form is defined using the <form> tag. It acts as a container for input fields and interactive controls.

• action: URL where form data is sent when submitted
• method: HTTP method used for submission (GET or POST)

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⚙️ 2. Common <form> Attributes

Attribute	Description
action	URL to which the form data is sent
method	HTTP method: get or post
autocomplete	Enables/disables autofill
target	Specifies where to display the response
novalidate	Disables built-in form validation
enctype	Type of content used when sending data (for files)

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🧱 3. Common Form Elements

Element	Purpose
<input>	Single-line input for text, password, etc.
<textarea>	Multi-line text input
<select> + <option>	Drop-down menu
<button>	Trigger form actions like submit/reset
<label>	Associates text with an input field

Example:

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🔤 4. HTML Input Types

The <input> tag supports various type values for different purposes:

Type	Description
text	Single-line text input
password	Hidden characters for passwords
email	Validates email input
number	Numeric input with optional range
checkbox	Toggle options (can choose multiple)
radio	Select one option from a group
submit	Submit form
reset	Reset form fields
file	Upload files
date, time	Pick date or time

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⚙️ 5. HTML Input Attributes

Attribute	Purpose
name	Key for submitted form data
value	Predefined value
placeholder	Hint text inside input
required	Makes input mandatory
readonly	Prevents editing
disabled	Disables the input entirely
maxlength	Limits character count
min / max	Numeric range enforcement
pattern	Custom regex for validation
autocomplete	Suggest previous entries

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✅ Key Takeaway

• Use <form> to group inputs for data submission
• Choose appropriate input types and attributes for user needs
• Always pair <label> with inputs for accessibility
• Combine client-side and server-side validation for security
• Understand when to use GET vs POST methods depending on data sensitivity