<INPUT>

The <INPUT> Tag is an Input, usually used within <FORM> (and is explained there). An <INPUT> is a field that can be edited by the user, and has several commands:

ALIGN

• Vertical position of the image. For use only with TYPE=IMAGE. The ALIGN is the same as <IMG>.

CHECKED

• Indicates that a checkbox or radio button is selected. Example in <FORM>.

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. Example in <FORM>.

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. Example in <FORM>.

SIZE

Specifies the size or precision of the field according to its type. Example in <FORM>.

SRC

A URL specifying an image. For use only with TYPE=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. Examples in <FORM>.

CHECKBOX

Used for simple Boolean attributes, 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". Example in <FORM>.

HIDDEN

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. Example in <FORM>.

IMAGE

An image field upon which you can click with a pointing device, causing the form to be immediately submitted. The coordinates 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-coordinate is submitted under the name of the field with .x appended, and the Y-coordinate is submitted under the name of the field with .y appended. Any VALUE attribute is ignored. The image itself is specified by the SRC attribute, exactly as for the <FORM> Tag.

PASSWORD

Same as the TEXT attribute, except that text is displayed as "********" instead of "password".

RADIO

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 attribute. Example in <FORM>.

RESET

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. Example in <FORM>.

SUBMIT

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 application-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. Example in <FORM>.

TEXT

is used for a single line text entry fields. Use in conjunction with the SIZE and MAXLENGTH attributes. Use the TEXTAREA Tag for text fields which can accept multiple lines. Example in <FORM>.

TEXTAREA

Used for multiple-line text-entry fields. Use in conjunction with the SIZE and MAXLENGTH attributes. Example in <FORM>.

NAME

The field reported to the Form, required by the Form's ACTION.

ROWS

The number of rows the TEXTAREA takes up.

COLS

The number of columns the TEXTAREA takes up.

WRAP

Specifies the word wrap effect. The minimum browser version that support this is Netscape 2.0 (for IE 4.0, VIRTUAL is default). The options are:

OFF

Default, no wrap is sent.

VIRTUAL

Long lines are sent as one line but wraps in the TEXTAREA.

PHYSICAL

The text is transmitted at all wrap points.

FILE

Netscape 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 valuable for companies providing tech support, service providers, etc., requesting data files. Don't worry if this doesn't make sense, your System Administrator should understand.

VALUE

The initial displayed value of the field, if it displays a textual or numerical value; or the value to be returned when the field is selected, if it displays a Boolean value. This attribute is required for radio buttons. Example in <FORM>.