HTML forms are an essential component of web pages that allow users to interact with a website by submitting data to a server for processing. They provide a way to collect information from users, such as text input, checkboxes, radio buttons, dropdown menus, and more. HTML forms act as a container for various input elements and are defined using the <form> tag.
The <form> tag in HTML establishes the beginning and end of a form. Within the <form> element, you can include other HTML elements that serve as input controls. These elements are used to collect different types of data from users, such as:
Text input fields (
<input type="text">): Allow users to enter single-line or multi-line text.Checkboxes (
<input type="checkbox">): Enable users to select multiple options from a predefined list.Radio buttons (
<input type="radio">): Allow users to choose a single option from a predefined list.Dropdown menus (
<select>and<option>): Provide a list of options from which users can select a single option.Submit buttons (
<input type="submit">): Trigger the submission of the form data to the server.File upload fields (
<input type="file">): Enable users to select and upload files from their local system.
Each input element within the form has a name attribute that serves as an identifier for the data being submitted. When the user submits the form, the data entered into the form fields is sent to the server using an HTTP request, typically a POST or GET request. The server can then process the submitted data and perform the necessary actions based on the information received.
Additionally, HTML forms support various attributes and events that allow you to control form behavior, such as specifying the form's action (the URL to which the form data is sent), defining validation rules, handling form submission events, and more.