1.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH
FORMS
Aaron Gustafson
@AaronGustafson
slideshare.net/AaronGustafson

2.
Forms suck.

3.
They are incredibly
tedious to create.

4.
They are undeniably
annoying to fill in.

5.
They can be
frustrating to test.

6.
They require logic.

7.
Forms suck.

8.
Forms suck.
can

9.
Forms suck.
don’t have to

10.
Forms suck.
can
a lot less

11.
Forms can be…
easy to build
predictable
effortless to use
and accessible

12.
It’s all in how you
look at them.

13.
HELPFUL HINT
Break large,
complex forms into
smaller, simpler,
reusable patterns

14.
Code Examples
http://is.gd/ag_forms

15.
How about a
common example?
Let’s look
at a contact form.

16.
webstandardssherpa.com/contact

17.
webstandardssherpa.com/contact

18.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Pattern 1: Label & Field
Your Name
<input type=“text” name=“full_name”>

19.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Pattern 1: Label & Field
Your Name
<input name=“full_name”>

20.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Pattern 1: Label & Field
Your Name
<input name=“full_name”/>

21.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Pattern 1: Label & Field
Your Name
<input name=“full_name”>

22.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Pattern 1: Label & Field
<label>Your Name</label>
<input name=“full_name”>

23.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Pattern 1: Label & Field
<label for=“full_name”>Your Name</label>
<input id=“full_name” name=“full_name”>

24.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Pattern 1: Label & Field
<label for=“full_name”>Your Name</label>
<input id=“full_name” name=“full_name” required>

25.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Pattern 2: Label, Field & Note
<label for=“email”>Your Email</label>
<input id=“email” name=“email” required>
We will only use your email address to respond to your message.

26.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Pattern 2: Label, Field & Note
<label for=“email”>Your Email</label>
<input id=“email” name=“email” required>
We will only use your email address to respond to your message.

27.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Pattern 2: Label, Field & Note
<label for=“email”>Your Email</label>
<input id=“email” name=“email” required>
We will only use your email address to respond to your message.

28.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Pattern 2: Label, Field & Note
<label for=“email”>Your Email</label>
<input type=“email” id=“email” name=“email” required>
We will only use your email address to respond to your message.

29.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Pattern 2: Label, Field & Note
<label for=“email”>Your Email</label>
<input type=“email” id=“email” name=“email” required>
We will only use your email address to respond to your message.

30.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Pattern 2: Label, Field & Note
<label for=“email”>Your Email</label>
<input type=“email” id=“email” name=“email” required>
We will only use your email address to respond to your message.

31.
Browsers ignore
what they don’t
understand

32.
Progressive
Enhancement

33.
SHAMELESS PLUG!
Crafting Rich Experienceswith Progressive Enhancement
SECOND EDITION
ADAPTIVEWEBDESIGN
by Aaron GustafsonForeword by Jeremy Keith
Read Free at
http://is.gd/awd1st
Available
Dec 6th

34.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Pattern 2: Label, Field & Note
<label for=“email”>Your Email</label>
<input type=“email” id=“email” name=“email” required>
<em>
We will only use your email address to respond to your message.
</em>

35.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Pattern 2: Label, Field & Note
<label for=“email”>Your Email</label>
<input type=“email” id=“email” name=“email” required>
<em class=“note”>
We will only use your email address to respond to your message.
</em>

36.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Pattern 2: Label, Field & Note
<label for=“email”>Your Email</label>
<input type=“email” id=“email” name=“email” required
aria-describedby=“email-note”>
<em class=“note” id=“email-note”>
We will only use your email address to respond to your message.
</em>

37.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Rinse & Repeat
<label for=“subject”>Purpose of Your Message</label>
<select id="subject" name="subject">
<option>Question/Comment</option>
<option>Article Error</option>
<option>Website Bug Report</option>
<option>Ask the Sherpas a question</option>
</select>

38.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Rinse & Repeat
<label for=“message”>Your Message</label>
<textarea id="message" name="message"></textarea>

39.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Buttons
<input type=“submit” value=“Send My Message”>

40.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Buttons
<button type=“submit”>Send My Message</button>

41.
HELPFUL HINT
A button element
can contain pretty
much anything
(within reason)

42.
That new email field
looks cool, can we
see more of that
fancy HTML5 stuff?

43.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Requesting URLs
<label for=“url”>URL</label>
<input type=“url” id=“url” name=“url” required
aria-describedby=“url-note”
>
<em class=“note” id=“url-note”>
Please provide the URL for the specific page that includes the area
you want reviewed.
</em>

44.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Requesting URLs
<label for=“url”>URL</label>
<input type=“url” id=“url” name=“url” required
aria-describedby=“url-note”
>
<em class=“note” id=“url-note”>
Please provide the URL for the specific page that includes the area
you want reviewed.
</em>

45.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Requesting URLs
<label for=“url”>URL</label>
<input type=“url” id=“url” name=“url” required
aria-describedby=“url-note”
>
<em class=“note” id=“url-note”>
Please provide the URL for the specific page that includes the area
you want reviewed.
</em>

46.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Requesting URLs
<label for=“url”>URL</label>
<input type=“url” id=“url” name=“url” required
aria-describedby=“url-note”
>
<em class=“note” id=“url-note”>
Please provide the URL for the specific page that includes the area
you want reviewed.
</em>

47.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Providing hints
<label for=“url”>URL</label>
<input type=“url” id=“url” name=“url” required
aria-describedby=“url-note”
placeholder=“http://www.yoursite.com/specific-page#anchored-section”
>
<em class=“note” id=“url-note”>
Please provide the URL for the specific page that includes the area
you want reviewed.
</em>

48.
HELPFUL HINT
Placeholders are just
that: placeholders
for actual content.
They are not labels!

49.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Providing hints
<label for=“url”>URL</label>
<input type=“url” id=“url” name=“url” required
aria-describedby=“url-note”
placeholder=“http://www.yoursite.com/specific-page#anchored-section”
>
<em class=“note” id=“url-note”>
Please provide the URL for the specific page that includes the area
you want reviewed.
</em>

50.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Requesting phone numbers
<label for="preferred_phone">Preferred Phone</label>
<input type="tel" id="preferred_phone" name=“preferred_phone”
placeholder="ex. 123-456-7890”
>

51.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Requesting phone numbers
<label for="preferred_phone">Preferred Phone</label>
<input type="tel" id="preferred_phone" name=“preferred_phone”
placeholder="ex. 123-456-7890”
>

52.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Requesting phone numbers
<label for="preferred_phone">Preferred Phone</label>
<input type="tel" id="preferred_phone" name=“preferred_phone”
placeholder="ex. 123-456-7890”
>

53.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Requesting numbers
<label for="test">What is 1 + 1?</label>
<input id="test" type=“number" name="test">

54.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Requesting numbers
<label for=“volume">How Loud is Spinal Tap?</label>
<input id="volume" type=“range" name=“volume”
min=“0” max=“11” step=“1”
>

55.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Requesting numbers
<label for="test">What is 1 + 1?</label>
<input id="test" type=“number" name=“test”
pattern=“[0-9]*”
min=“0” max=“9”
>

56.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Requesting dates & times
<label for="preferred_dates">Preferred Date to Visit</label>
<input id="preferred_dates" type="date" name=“preferred_dates"
required
>

57.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Requesting dates & times
<label for="preferred_dates">Preferred Date to Visit</label>
<input id="preferred_dates" type="date" name=“preferred_dates"
required
>

58.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Requesting dates & times
<label for="preferred_dates">Preferred Date to Visit</label>
<input id="preferred_dates" type="date" name=“preferred_dates"
required
>

59.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Requesting dates & times
<label for="preferred_dates">Preferred Date to Visit</label>
<input id="preferred_dates" type="date" name=“preferred_dates"
required
min=“2014-09-10” max=“2014-12-19”
>

60.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Requesting dates & times
<label for="preferred_dates">Preferred Date to Visit</label>
<input id="preferred_dates" type="date" name=“preferred_dates"
required
min=“2014-09-10” max=“2014-12-19”
>

61.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Requesting dates & times
<label for="requested_tour_time">Tour Time Requested</label>
<input id="requested_tour_time" type="time" name=“requested_tour_time">

62.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Requesting dates & times
<label for="requested_tour_time">Tour Time Requested</label>
<input id="requested_tour_time" type="time" name=“requested_tour_time">

63.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Mentalism
<label for="state">State</label>
<input id="state" name="state" list="states">
<datalist id="states">
<option>Alabama</option>
<option>Alaska</option>
<option>Arizona</option>
<option>Arkansas</option>
<!-- options continue -->
</datalist>

64.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Mentalism
<label for="state">State</label>
<input id="state" name="state" list="states">
<datalist id="states">
<option>Alabama</option>
<option>Alaska</option>
<option>Arizona</option>
<option>Arkansas</option>
<!-- options continue -->
</datalist>

65.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Mentalism
<label for="state">State</label>
<input id="state" name="state" list="states">
<datalist id="states">
<option value="AL">Alabama</option>
<option value="AK">Alaska</option>
<option value="AZ">Arizona</option>
<option value="AR">Arkansas</option>
<!-- options continue -->
</datalist>

66.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Mentalism: smart fallbacks
<label for=“state" id=“state_label”>State</label>
<datalist id=“states”>
<select name=“state” aria-labelledby=“state_label”>
<option>Alabama</option>
<option>Alaska</option>
<option>Arizona</option>
<option>Arkansas</option>
<!-- options continue -->
</select>
If other, please specify
</datalist>
<input id="state" name="state" list="states">
Based on work by Jeremy Keith: http://adactio.com/journal/4272

67.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Based on work by Jeremy Keith: http://adactio.com/journal/4272
Mentalism: smart fallbacks
<label for=“state" id=“state_label”>State</label>
<datalist id=“states”>
<select name=“state” aria-labelledby=“state_label”>
<option>Alabama</option>
<option>Alaska</option>
<option>Arizona</option>
<option>Arkansas</option>
<!-- options continue -->
</select>
If other, please specify
</datalist>
<input id="state" name="state" list="states">

68.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Mentalism: smart fallbacks
<label for=“state" id=“state_label”>State</label>
<datalist id=“states”>
<select name=“state” aria-labelledby=“state_label”>
<option>Alabama</option>
<option>Alaska</option>
<option>Arizona</option>
<option>Arkansas</option>
<!-- options continue -->
</select>
If other, please specify
</datalist>
<input id="state" name="state" list="states">
Based on work by Jeremy Keith: http://adactio.com/journal/4272

69.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Mentalism: smart fallbacks
<label for=“state" id=“state_label”>State</label>
<datalist id=“states”>
<select name=“state” aria-labelledby=“state_label”>
<option>Alabama</option>
<option>Alaska</option>
<option>Arizona</option>
<option>Arkansas</option>
<!-- options continue -->
</select>
If other, please specify
</datalist>
<input id="state" name="state" list="states">
Based on work by Jeremy Keith: http://adactio.com/journal/4272

70.
Ok, I get it: forms in
HTML5 are awesome.
But how should we
organize our forms?

71.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Do we divide it up?
<div>
<label for=“full_name”>Your Name</label>
<input id=“full_name” name=“full_name” required>
</div>

72.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Do paragraphs make sense?
<p>
<label for=“full_name”>Your Name</label>
<input id=“full_name” name=“full_name” required>
</p>

73.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Is it a list of questions?
<ol>
<li>
<label for=“full_name”>Your Name</label>
<input id=“full_name” name=“full_name” required>
</li>
</ol>

74.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Is it a list of questions?
form ol,
form ul {
list-style: none;
margin: 0;
padding: 0;
}

75.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Control Group Classification
<li class=“text”>
<label for=“full_name”>Your Name</label>
<input id=“full_name” name=“full_name” required>
</li>

76.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Control Group Classification
<li class=“form-control form-control--text”>
<label for=“full_name”>Your Name</label>
<input id=“full_name” name=“full_name” required>
</li>

77.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Control Group Classification
<li class=“text”>
<label for=“full_name”>Your Name</label>
<input id=“full_name” name=“full_name” required>
</li>

78.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Control Group Classification
<li class=“email”>
<label for=“email”>Your Email</label>
<input type=“email” id=“email” name=“email” required
aria-describedby=“email-note”>
<em class=“note” id=“email-note”>
We will only use your email address to respond
to your message.
</em>
</li>

79.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Control Group Classification
<li class=“select”>
<label for=“subject”>Purpose of Your Message</label>
<select id="subject" name="subject">
<option>Question/Comment</option>
<option>Article Error</option>
<option>Website Bug Report</option>
<option>Ask the Sherpas a question</option>
</select>
</li>

80.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Control Group Classification
<li class=“textarea”>
<label for=“message”>Your Message</label>
<textarea id="message" name=“message"></textarea>
</li>

81.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Control Group Classification
<li class=“buttons”>
<button type=“submit”>Send My Message</button>
</li>

82.
Makes sense.
What about more
complex form
constructs?

83.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Pattern 3: Confirmations
<input type=“checkbox” name=“newsletter” value=“yes”>
Sign me up for this newsletter

84.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Pattern 3: Confirmations
<input type=“checkbox” name=“newsletter” value=“yes”
id=“newsletter”>
<label for=“newsletter”>Sign me up for this newsletter</label>

85.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Pattern 3: Confirmations
<label>
<input type=“checkbox” name=“newsletter” value=“yes”>
Sign me up for this newsletter
</label>

86.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Pattern 3: Confirmations
input {
/* Styles for most normal input types */
}
label input {
/* Styles for checkbox and radio controls */
}

87.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Pattern 3: Confirmations
<label for=“newsletter”>
<input type=“checkbox” name=“newsletter” value=“yes”
id=“newsletter”>
Sign me up for this newsletter
</label>

88.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Pattern 4: Multiple Choice
Tablets (9 available)
<label for="asus-nexus-7">
<input type="checkbox" name="device[]" id=“asus-nexus-7">
Asus Nexus 7
</label>
<!-- more options -->

89.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Pattern 4: Multiple Choice
Tablets (8 available)
<ul>
<li><!-- Asus Nexus 7 --></li>
<!-- more options -->
</ul>

90.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Pattern 4: Multiple Choice
<fieldset>
<legend>Tablets (9 available)</legend>
<ul>
<li><!-- Asus Nexus 7 --></li>
<!-- more options -->
</ul>
</fieldset>

91.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Pattern 4: Multiple Choice
<fieldset>
<legend>Tablets <em>(9 available)</em></legend>
<ul>
<li><!-- Asus Nexus 7 --></li>
<!-- more options -->
</ul>
</fieldset>

92.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Pattern 4: Multiple Choice
<li class=“grouped checkboxes”>
<fieldset>
<legend>Tablets <em>(9 available)</em></legend>
<ul>
<li><!-- Asus Nexus 7 --></li>
<!-- more options -->
</ul>
</fieldset>
</li>

93.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Pattern 5: Related Entry
Requested Day and Time
<label for="requested_date">Requested Day</label>
<select id=“requested_date" name=“requested_date" required=“”>
<!-- options —>
</select>
<label for="requested_time">Requested Time</label>
<select id="requested_time" name=“requested_time" required="">
<!-- options —>
</select>

94.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Pattern 5: Related Entry
<fieldset>
<legend>Requested Day and Time</legend>
<label for="requested_date">Requested Day</label>
<select id=“requested_date" name="requested_date"
required=“”><!-- options --></select>
<label for="requested_time">Requested Time</label>
<select id="requested_time" name=“requested_time" required="">
<!-- options --></select>
</fieldset>

95.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Pattern 5: Related Entry
<li class=“grouped date-time-selects”>
<fieldset>
<legend>Requested Day and Time</legend>
<label for="requested_date">Requested Day</label>
<select id=“requested_date" name="requested_date"
required=“”><!-- options --></select>
<!-- continued… -->
</fieldset>
</li>

96.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Pattern 5: Related Entry
/* Hide the labels in an accessible way */
form .date-time-selects label {
position: absolute;
height: 1px;
width: 1px;
overflow: hidden;
clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); /* IE6 & IE7 */
clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);
}

97.
HELPFUL HINT
Focus on
making the form
read naturally
and easily.

98.
HELPFUL HINT
You can’t always
make an interface
perfect, but you can
make it usable.

99.
Ok, I think I’m
getting it, but
small screens still
scare me a little.

100.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Tap-friendly hit targets
.confirm label,
.radios label,
.checkboxes label {
margin: -1em 0;
padding: 1em 0;
}

101.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Tap-friendly hit targets
.confirm label,
.radios label,
.checkboxes label {
margin: -1em 0;
padding: 1em 0;
}

102.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
No layout before its time
.form-control {
clear: both;
}
.form-control label,
.form-control input {
float: left;
width: 34%;
}
.form-control input {
width: 63%;
}

103.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
No layout before its time
.form-control label,
.form-control input {
display: block;
margin-bottom: .328em;
}

104.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
No layout before its time
.form-control label,
.form-control input {
display: block;
margin-bottom: .328em;
}
@media only screen and (min-width: 60em) {
/* Side by Side layout */
}
YMQMV

105.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
No layout before its time
@media only screen and (min-width:30em) {
form .grouped ul li {
float: left;
width: 50%;
}
} YMQMV

106.
Makes sense.
Could we talk a bit
about validation?

107.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Requiring a field
<p>Fields marked with a * are required.</p>
<p>
<label for=“first_name">
First Name <abbr title=“required">*</abbr>
</label>
<input id="first_name" name="first_name" required>
</p>

108.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Requiring a field
<p>Fields marked with a * are required.</p>
<p>
<label for=“first_name">
First Name <abbr title=“required">*</abbr>
</label>
<input id="first_name" name="first_name" required>
</p>

109.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Requiring a field
<p>Fields marked with a * are
<strong id="required">required</strong>.</p>
<p>
<label for=“first_name">
First Name
<abbr title=“required” aria-labelledby=“required”>*</abbr>
</label>
<input id="first_name" name="first_name" required>
</p>

110.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Requiring a field
<p tabindex="0">Fields marked with a * are required.</p>
<p>
<label for=“first_name">
First Name <abbr title=“required">*</abbr>
</label>
<input id="first_name" name="first_name" required
aria-required="true">
</p>

111.
HELPFUL HINT
Focus on
making the form
read naturally
and easily.

112.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Native validation
<label for=“email”>Your Email</label>
<input type=“email” id=“email” name=“email” required>
We will only use your email address to respond to your message.

113.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Non-native format validation
<label for="test">What is 1 + 1?</label>
<input id="test" type=“number" name=“test”
pattern=“[0-9]*”
>

114.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Non-native format validation
<label for=“test">Enter three numbers
followed by two letters</label>
<input id="test" name=“test”
placeholder=“e.g. 123ab”
pattern=“d{3}[a-zA-Z]{2}”
>

115.
HELPFUL HINT
Don’t forget about
server-side
validation either.

116.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Provide a list of errors
retreats4geeks.com/contact

117.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Provide a list of errors
<div role=“alert”>
<p>There were errors with your form submission:</p>
<ol>
<li><a href="#message">Message</a> is a required field</li>
<li><a href="#name">Name</a> is a required field</li>
<li><a href="#email">Email</a> is a required field</li>
</ol>
</div>

118.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Provide easy access to them
<div role=“alert”>
<p>There were errors with your form submission:</p>
<ol>
<li><a href="#message">Message</a> is a required field</li>
<li><a href="#name">Name</a> is a required field</li>
<li><a href="#email">Email</a> is a required field</li>
</ol>
</div>

119.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Provide easy access to them
<label for=“message”>
Message <abbr title=“required">*</abbr>
</label>
<textarea id="message" name="message" required></textarea>

120.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Provide field-level help
<li class="text validation-error">
<label for=“email”>Your Email <abbr title=“required">*</abbr>
</label>
<input id="email" type="email" name="email"
required=“" aria-required=“true”
aria-invalid="true"
aria-describedby=“email-error"
>
<strong id="email-error" class=“validation-error-message">
Your email address is required</strong>
</li>

121.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Provide field-level help
li.validation-error {
color: #922026;
}
li.validation-error input,
li.validation-error textarea,
li.validation-error select {
border-color: #922026;
}

122.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Provide field-level help
.validation-error label::before {
content: “x ";
font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;
speak: none; /* The future! */
}

123.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH FORMS
Provide field-level help
.validation-error label::before {
content: “Please Enter ";
font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;
}

124.
One More Thing…

125.
Forms suck.

126.
Forms suck.
can
a lot less

127.
Forms can be…
easy to build
predictable
effortless to use
and accessible

128.
Questions?
Tweet me at
@AaronGustafson

129.
Thank you!
@AaronGustafson
aaron-gustafson.com
slideshare.net/AaronGustafson