HTML Form Elements

This chapter describes all HTML form elements.

The <input> element

The most important form element is <input> elements.

The <input> element according to different type Properties can change to various forms.

Note:The next chapter explains all HTML input types.

The <select> element (drop-down list)

<select> The element definesDrop-down list:

Example

<select name="cars">
<option value="volvo">Volvo</option>
<option value="saab">Saab</option>
<option value="fiat">Fiat</option>
<option value="audi">Audi</option>
</select>

Try It Yourself

<option> The element defines the options to be selected.

Lists usually display the first option as the selected option.

You can define predefined options by adding the selected attribute.

Example

<option value="fiat" selected>Fiat</option>

Try It Yourself

The <textarea> element

<textarea> The element defines a multi-line input field (Text area）：

Example

<textarea name="message" rows="10" cols="30">
The cat was playing in the garden.
</textarea>

Try It Yourself

The above HTML code is displayed in the browser as:

The cat was playing in the garden.

<button> Element

<button> element defines clickableButton:

Example

<button type="button" onclick="alert('Hello World!')">Click Me!</button>

Try It Yourself

The above HTML code is displayed in the browser as:

HTML5 Form Elements

HTML5 adds the following form elements:

  • <datalist>
  • <keygen>
  • <output>

Note:By default, browsers do not display unknown elements. New elements will not break your page.

HTML5 <datalist> Element

<datalist> element specifies a predefined option list for the <input> element.

The user will see a dropdown list of predefined options when they enter data.

of the <input> element list The property must reference the <datalist> element's id Properties.

Example

Set predefined values for the <input> element using <datalist>:

<form action="action_page.php">
<input list="browsers">
<datalist id="browsers">
   <option value="Internet Explorer">
   <option value="Firefox">
   <option value="Chrome">
   <option value="Opera">
   <option value="Safari">
</datalist> 
</form>

Try It Yourself