INPUT

For information about scripting the <INPUT> element, see the Scripting the <INPUT> element topic.

The Input element represents a field whose contents may be edited or activated by the user.

Attributes of the Input element:

ALIGN
Vertical alignment of the image. For use only with TYPE=IMAGE in HTML level 2. The possible values are exactly the same as for the ALIGN attribute of the <IMG ...> element.

CHECKED
Indicates that a checkbox or radio button is selected. Unselected checkboxes and radio buttons do not return name/value pairs when the form is submitted.

MAXLENGTH
Indicates the maximum number of characters that can be entered into a text field. This can be greater than specified by the SIZE attribute, in which case the field will scroll appropriately. The default number of characters is unlimited.

NAME
Symbolic name used when transferring the form's contents. The NAME attribute is required for most input types and is normally used to provide a unique identifier for a field, or for a logically related group of fields. The name given to the element can also be used to reference it for scripting purposes.

SIZE
Specifies the size or precision of the field according to its type. For example, to specify a field with a visible width of 24 characters:

INPUT TYPE="text" SIZE="24"

SRC
To be used with the TYPE=IMAGE , this attribute represents a URL specifying an the desired image.

TYPE
Defines the type of data the field accepts. Defaults to free text. Several types of fields can be defined with the type attribute:

BUTTON: This can be used to embed buttons directly into HTML documents, that add functionality when used in conjunction with Visual Basic Script, or JavaScript. The NAME attribute is used to give the button a unique name, which can be used to set its function in the script. The VALUE attribute specifies the text that is displayed on the button in the document.

This is a button TYPE :
CHECKBOX : Used for simple Boolean attributes (where a field will be chosen, or not), or for attributes that can take multiple values at the same time. The latter is represented by a number of checkbox fields each of which has the same name. Each selected checkbox generates a separate name/value pair in the submitted data, even if this results in duplicate names. The default value for checkboxes is "on". It requires the NAME and VALUE attributes, optional attributes being CHECKED.

This is a checkbox TYPE :
HIDDEN : With this input type, no field is presented to the user, but the content of the field is sent with the submitted form. This value may be used to transmit state information about client/server interaction.

IMAGE : An image field upon which you can click with a pointing device, causing the form to be immediately submitted. The co-ordinates of the selected point are measured in pixel units from the upper-left corner of the image, and are returned (along with the other contents of the form) in two name/value pairs. The x-co-ordinate is submitted under the name of the field with .x appended, and the y- co-ordinate is submitted under the name of the field with .y appended. The NAME attribute is required. The image itself is specified by the SRC attribute, exactly as for the Image element.

This is an image TYPE :
PASSWORD : is the same as the TEXT attribute, except that text is not displayed as it is entered.

This is a password TYPE :
RADIO : is used for attributes that accept a single value from a set of alternatives. Each radio button field in the group should be given the same name. Only the selected radio button in the group generates a name/value pair in the submitted data. Radio buttons require an explicit VALUE and NAME attribute. CHECKED is an optional attribute and can be used to specify which options are selected for initial form display.

This is a radio TYPE :
RESET : is a button that when pressed resets the form's fields to their specified initial values. The label to be displayed on the button may be specified just as for the SUBMIT button.

This is a reset TYPE :
SUBMIT : is a button that when pressed submits the form. You can use the VALUE attribute to provide a non- editable label to be displayed on the button. The default label is browser-specific. If a SUBMIT button is pressed in order to submit the form, and that button has a NAME attribute specified, then that button contributes a name/value pair to the submitted data. Otherwise, a SUBMIT button makes no contribution to the submitted data.

This is a submit TYPE :
TEXT : is used for a single line text entry fields. It should be used in conjunction with the SIZE and MAXLENGTH attributes to set the maximum amount of text that can be entered. For textual input that requires multiple lines, the <TEXTAREA> element for text fields which can accept multiple lines. Explicit VALUE and NAME attributes are also required.

This is a text TYPE :
TEXTAREA : is used for multiple-line text-entry fields. Use in conjunction with the SIZE and MAXLENGTH attributes. It is better to use the <TEXTAREA> element for such text entry boxes.

FILE : Netscape now supports a FILE option to the TYPE attribute of the INPUT element, allowing an ACCEPT attribute for the INPUT element (which is a list of media types or type patterns allowed for the input) and allowing the ENCTYPE of a from to be "multipart/form-data".
This allows the inclusion of files with form information, which could prove invaluable for example, for companies providing technical support, or service providers, requesting data files.

VALUE
When used with TYPE= ... attributes, this attribute sets the initial displayed value of the field if it displays a textual or numerical value. If the TYPE= ... attribute is one which only allows Boolean values (i.e. chosen, or not chosen) then this specifies the value to be returned when the field is selected.