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<!-->
<!DOCTYPE>
<a>
<abbr>
<acronym>
<address>
<applet>
<area>
<b>
<base>
<basefont>
<bdo>
<big>
<blockquote>
<body>
<br>
<button>
<caption>
<center>
<cite>
<code>
<col>
<colgroup>
<dd>
<del>
<dfn>
<dir>
<div>
<dl>
<dt>
<em>
<fieldset>
<font>
<form>
<frame>
<frameset>
<head>
<h1> - <h6>
<hr>
<html>
<i>
<iframe>
<img>
<input>
<ins>
<kbd>
<label>
<legend>
<li>
<link>
<map>
<menu>
<meta>
<noframes>
<noscript>
<object>
<ol>
<optgroup>
<option>
<p>
<param>
<pre>
<q>
<s>
<samp>
<script>
<select>
<small>
<span>
<strike>
<strong>
<style>
<sub>
<sup>
<table>
<tbody>
<td>
<textarea>
<tfoot>
<th>
<thead>
<title>
<tr>
<tt>
<u>
<ul>
<var>

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HTML <input> tag


Definition and Usage

The <input> tag defines the start of an input field where the user can enter data.


Differences Between HTML and XHTML

In HTML the <input> tag has no end tag.

In XHTML the <input> tag must be properly closed.


Tips and Notes

Note: The input element is empty, it contains attributes only.

Tip: Use the label element to define a label to a form control.


Example

Source Output
<form action="form_action.asp"
method="get">

First name:
<input type="text" name="fname" value="Mickey" />
<br />
Last name:
<input type="text" name="lname" value="Mouse" />
<br />
<input type="submit" value="Submit" />

</form>

<p>
If you click the "Submit" button, you will send your input to a new page called form_action.asp.
</p>

First name:
Last name:

If you click the "Submit" button, you will send your input to a new page called form_action.asp.



Optional Attributes

DTD indicates in which DTD the attribute is allowed. S=Strict, T=Transitional, and F=Frameset.

Attribute Value Description DTD
accept list_of_mime_types A comma-separated list of MIME types that indicates the MIME type of the file transfer.

Note: Only used with type="file"

STF
align left
right
top
texttop
middle
absmiddle
baseline
bottom
absbottom
Defines the alignment of text following the image.

Note: Only used with type="image"

TF
alt text Defines an alternate text for the image.

Note: Only used with type="image"

STF
checked checked  Indicates that the input element should be checked when it first loads.

Note: Used with type="checkbox" and type="radio"

STF
disabled disabled Disables the input element when it first loads so that the user can not write text in it, or select it.

Note: Cannot be used with type="hidden"

STF
maxlength number Defines the maximum number of characters allowed in a text field.

Note: Only used with type="text"

STF
name field_name Defines a unique name for the input element.

Note: This attribute is required with type="button", type="checkbox", type="file", type="hidden", type="image", type="password", type="text", and type="radio"

STF
readonly     readonly Indicates that the value of this field cannot be modified.

Note: Only used with type="text"

STF
size number_of_char Defines the size of the input element.

Note: Cannot be used with type="hidden"

STF
src URL Defines the URL of the image to display.

Note: Only used with type="image"

STF
type button
checkbox
file
hidden
image
password
radio
reset
submit
text

Indicates the type of the input element. The default value is "text"

Note: This is not a required attribute, but we think you should include it. If omitted, IE 5.5 will still display a text field, but Netscape 4.7 will not.

STF
value value For buttons, reset buttons and submit buttons: Defines the text on the button.

For image buttons: Defines the symbolic result of the field passed to a script.

For checkboxes and radio buttons: Defines the result of the input element when clicked. The result is sent to the form's action URL.

For hidden, password, and text fields: Defines the default value of the element.

Note: Cannot be used with type="file"

Note: This attribute is required with type="checkbox" and type="radio"

STF

Standard Attributes

id, class, title, style, dir, lang, xml:lang

For a full description, go to Standard Attributes.

Event Attributes

tabindex, accesskey, onfocus, onblur, onselect, onchange, onclick, ondblclick, onmousedown, onmouseup, onmouseover, onmousemove, onmouseout, onkeypress, onkeydown, onkeyup

For a full description, go to Event Attributes.


Try-It-Yourself Demos

Text fields
How to create text fields on an HTML page. A user can write text in a text field.

Password fields
How to create a password field on an HTML page.

Checkboxes
How to create check-boxes on an HTML page. A user can select or unselect a checkbox.

Radiobuttons
How to create radio-buttons on an HTML page.

Create a button
How to create a button. On the button you can define your own text.

Form with input fields and a submit button
How to add a form to a page. The form contains two input fields and a submit button.

Form with checkboxes
This form contains two checkboxes, and a submit button.

Form with radiobuttons
This form contains two radio buttons, and a submit button.



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