HTML Input Attributes

Date: 12-10-24, and 12-15-24

This chapter describes the different attributes for the HTML <input> element.

The value Attribute

The input value attribute specifies an initial value for an input field:

The input value attribute






The readonly Attribute

The input readonly attribute specifies that an input field is read-only.

A read-only input field cannot be modified (however, a user can tab to it, highlight it, and copy the text from it).

The value of a read-only input field will be sent when submitting the form!

The input readonly attribute

The readonly attribute specifies that an input field should be read-only (cannot be changed):






The disabled Attribute

The input disabled specifies that an input field should be disabled.

A disabled input field is unusable and un-clickable.

The value of a disabled input field will not be sent when submitting the form!

The size Attribute

The input size attribute specifies the visible width, in characters, of an input field.

The default value for size is 20.

Note: The size attribute works with the following input types: text, search, tel, url, email, and password.

The input size attribute

The size attribute specifies the width (in characters) of an input field:






The maxlength Attribute

The input maxlength attribute specifies the maximum number of characters allowed in an input field.

Note: When a maxlength is set, the input field will not accept more than the specified number of characters. However, this attribute does not provide any feedback. So, if you want to alert the user, you must write JavaScript code.

The input maxlength attribute

The maxlength attribute specifies the maximum number of characters allowed in an input field:






The min and max Attributes

The input min and max attributes specify the minimum and maximum values for an input field.

The min and max attributes work with the following input types: number, range, date, datetime-local, month, time and week.

Tip: Use the max and min attributes together to create a range of legal values.

The input min and max attributes

Themin and max attributes specify the minimum and maximum values for an input element.







The mutiple Attribute

The input multiple attribute specifies that the user is allowed to enter more than one value in an input field.

The multiple attribute works with the following input types: email, and file.

The input multiple attributes



The pattern Attribute

The input pattern attribute specifies a regular expression that the input field's value is checked against, when the form is submitted.

The pattern attribute works with the following input types : text, date, search, url, tel, email, and password.

Use the global title attribute to describe the pattern to help the user.

The input pattern attribute

The pattern attribute specifies a regular expression that the input element's value is checked against.



The placeholder Attribute

The input placeholder attribute specifies a short hint that describes the expected value of an input field (a sample value or a short description of the expected format).

The short hint is displayed in the input field before the user enters a value.

The placeholder attribute works with the following input types: text, search, url, number, tel, email, and password.

The input placeholder attribute

The placeholder attribute specifies a short hint that describes the expected value of an input field.



The required Attribute

The input required attribute specifies that an input field must be filled out before submitting the form.

The required attribute works with the following input types: text, search, url, tel, email, password, date pickers, number, checkbox, radio, and file.

The input required attribute

The step Attribute

The input step attribute specifies the legal number for an input field.

Example: if step="3", lgal numbers could be -3, 0, 6, ect.

Tip: This attribute can be used together with the max and min attributes to create a range of legal values.

The step attribute works with the following input types; number, range, date, datetime-local, month, time and week.

The input step attribute

The step attribute specifies the legal number intervals for an input element.

Note: Input restrictions are not foolproof, and JavaScript provides many ways to add illegal input. To safety restric input, it must be checked by the receiver (the server)!

The autofocus Attribute

The input autofocus attribute specifies that an input field should automatically get focus when the page loads.

The input autofocus attribute






The height and width Attributes

The input height and width attributes specify the height and width of an <input type="image"> element.

Tip: Always specify both the height and width attributes for images. If height and width are set, the space required for the image is reserved when the page is loaded. Without these attributes, the browser does not know the size of the image, and cannot reserve the appropriate space to it. The effect will be that the page layout will change during loading (while the image load).

The input height and width attributes





Note: The input type="image" sends the the X and Y coordinates of the click that activated the image button.

The list Attribute

The input list attribute refers to a <datalist> element that contains pre-defined options for an <input> element.

The input list attribute

Tip: In some browserss you may need to activate an autocomplete function for this to work (Look under "Preferences" in the browser's menu).