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Three Useful HTML Form Features: Radio Button, Drop-down Content & Data Validation

A simple register form like Facebook sign up form may only contains username, email and password. However, we may also see many complex forms out there such as survey form, visa application form, and school application form, etc.

From Google Image
Just like a random example form  above, this survey form not only has simple text fields such as "Name" & "Email" , but it also has drop-down content and checkbox to collect the information.

With Drop-down and Checkbox, people feel easy to make a choice because they don't have to think their own answers. It also help company to collect the most relevant data and analyze results.

How to add those useful features on your HTML form?

Radio Button/Checkbox

Radio Button and Checkbox are widgets whose state you can change by clicking on them.

Both of them are created using the <input> element with its "type" attribute  set to the value "checkbox" or "radio".

For example, if I want you to choose your favorite pet between dogs and cats, I can ask you to answer my question by clicking the radio button. The HTML code is below:


As the result:


You can also change the radio button to checkbox by changing the <input type="radio"> to <input type="checkbox">

Drop-down Content

Drop-down widgets are a simple way to let users select one of many options without taking up much space in the user interface.(From MDN Web Doc Drop-down Content)

Select box is a common form of drop-down content. It is created with a <select></select> element with one or more <option> element.

For example, I want to create a fruit survey and ask you to select your favorite fruit from the drop-down content. You may choose one of four options: Apple, Banana, Orange, and Cherry.



As the result:

If you want create a multiple choice select box, you can add the "multiple" attribute to the <select> element.

For example: <select multiple id="multi" name="multi">

Form Data Validation

Sometime when I mis-spell the email address on the login text box, it will show "please enter a correct email" message to ask me to change. Until I enter the right email information and password, I can go through the page.

Data validation is very important because it can ensure company to collect the right data information in the right format, and help to protect users privacy.

If you want to add validation on your form, you will add "required" attribute in the <input> element.

For example, If  I want you to tell me your favorite movie, and it is required field, so I will add "required" inside the <input> element.


As the result:

When you enter the movie name, you can submit the form. However, if you try to submit the form without enter correct content, an error message will pop up.




                      


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