HTML5 Input Types

HTML5 New Input Types

HTML5 has several new input types for forms. These new features allow better input control and validation.

This chapter covers the new input types:

• color
• date
• datetime
• datetime-local
• email
• month
• number
• range
• search
• tel
• time
• url
• week

Note: Not all major browsers support all the new input types. However, you can already start using them; If they are not supported, they will behave as regular text fields.

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Input Type: color

The color type is used for input fields that should contain a color.

<input type="color" name="favcolor">

Input Type: date

The date type allows the user to select a date.

<input type="date" name="bday">

Input Type: datetime

The datetime type allows the user to select a date and time (with time zone).

 <input type="datetime" name="bdaytime">

Input Type: datetime-local

The datetime-local type allows the user to select a date and time (no time zone).

<input type="datetime-local" name="bdaytime">

Input Type: email

The email type is used for input fields that should contain an e-mail address.

E-mail: <input type="email" name="email">

Input Type: month

The month type allows the user to select a month and year.

(month and year): <input type="month" name="bdaymonth">

Input Type: number

The number type is used for input fields that should contain a numeric value.

You can also set restrictions on what numbers are accepted:

Quantity (between 1 and 5): <input type="number" name="quantity" min="1" max="5">

Use the following attributes to specify restrictions:

• max - specifies the maximum value allowed
• min - specifies the minimum value allowed
• step - specifies the legal number intervals
• value - Specifies the default value

Input Type: range

The range type is used for input fields that should contain a value from a range of numbers.

You can also set restrictions on what numbers are accepted.

<input type="range" name="points" min="1" max="10">

Use the following attributes to specify restrictions:

• max - specifies the maximum value allowed
• min - specifies the minimum value allowed
• step - specifies the legal number intervals
• value - Specifies the default value

Input Type: search

The search type is used for search fields (a search field behaves like a regular text field).

Search Google: <input type="search" name="googlesearch">

Input Type: tel

Telephone: <input type="tel" name="usrtel">

Input Type: time

The time type allows the user to select a time.

Select a time: <input type="time" name="usr_time">

Input Type: url

The url type is used for input fields that should contain a URL address.

The value of the url field is automatically validated when the form is submitted.

Add your homepage: <input type="url" name="homepage">

Tip: Safari on iPhone recognizes the url input type, and changes the on-screen keyboard to match it (adds .com option).

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Input Type: week

The week type allows the user to select a week and year.

Select a week: <input type="week" name="week_year">