Web Application Design Patterns

Chapter 2. Forms

Introduction

Forms are a distinguishing characteristic of web applications. By using form elements (e.g., text boxes, dropdown lists, scrolling lists, radio buttons, checkboxes, and action buttons), web applications allow users to accomplish goals such as buying products and services, making flight reservations, finding directions, uploading and sharing photos, and so forth. To ensure that users can accomplish their goals successfully, it is important that web applications are not cumbersome and are designed such that:

• Their purpose is clear (CLEAR BENEFITS).

• They ask for only relevant and a minimal amount of information (SHORT FORMS).

• Their organization clearly conveys the relationship among form elements (LOGICAL GROUPING). ...