HTML <form> Tag
Example
A simple HTML form with two input fields and one submit button:
<form
action="form_action.asp"
method="get">
First name: <input type="text" name="fname"
/><br />
Last name:
<input type="text" name="lname"
/><br />
<input type="submit" value="Submit" />
</form> |
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 forms can also contain select menus, textarea, fieldset, legend, and label elements.
Forms are used to pass data to a server.
Browser Support
The <form> tag is supported in all major browsers.
Differences Between HTML and XHTML
NONE
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 direction
for 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.
 |
Try it Yourself - Examples |
Form with
checkboxes
A form with two checkboxes, and a submit button.
Form with
radiobuttons
A form with two radio buttons, and a submit button.
Send e-mail
from a form
How to send e-mail from a form.
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