HTML & XHTML: The Definitive Guide, 6th Edition

The <input> Tag

Use the <input> tag to define any one of a number of common form "controls," as they are called in the HTML and XHTML standards, including text fields, multiple-choice lists, clickable images, and submission buttons. Although there are many attributes for the <input> tag, only the name attribute is required for each element (but not for a submission or reset button; see the following explanation). And as we describe in detail later, each type of input control uses only a subset of the allowed attributes. Additional <input> attributes may be required based upon which type of form element you specify.

Table 9-1 summarizes the various form <input> types and attributes, required and optional.

Table 9-1. Required and some common form element attributes

Form tag or <input> type	Attributes (× = required; ▴ = optional; blank = not supported)
	accept	accesskey	align	alt	border	cols	checked	disabled	maxlength	multiple	name	notab	onBlur	onChange	onClick	onFocus	onSelect	readonly	rows	size	src	tabindex	taborder	usemap	value	wrap
	button		▴						▴			×	▴	▴		▴	▴						▴	▴		×
checkbox		▴					▴	▴			×	▴			▴			▴				▴	▴		×
file	▴	▴						▴	▴		×	▴	▴	▴	▴	▴		▴		▴		▴	▴		▴
hidden											×														×
image		▴	▴	▴	▴			▴			▴	▴			▴						×	▴	▴	▴
password		▴						▴	▴		×	▴	▴	▴	▴	▴	▴	▴		▴		▴	▴		×
radio		▴					▴	▴			×	▴			▴			▴				▴	▴		×
reset		▴						▴				▴			▴							▴	▴		▴
submit		▴						▴			▴	▴			▴							▴	▴		▴
text		▴						▴	▴		×	▴	▴	▴	▴	▴	▴	▴		▴		▴	▴		▴
<button>		▴						▴			×		▴		▴	▴						▴			▴
<select>								▴		▴	×		▴	▴	▴	▴				▴		▴
<textarea>		▴				▴		▴			×		▴	▴	▴	▴	▴	▴	▴			▴				▴

<input>

Function	Creates an input element within a form
Attributes ...