The input tag serves as a common tag for several types of form elements. By using the type attribute, you specify which kind of control you want. The most common is the text type, which is rendered as a singleline text input field. Here's an example:

 

<input type="text" name="textbox1" />

In your browser, code like that will be rendered like this:

 

 

The type attribute

The type attribute allows the input tag to be a multipurpose tag for rendering different types of controls.

 

text

A standard input field for single lines of text:

password

Just like the text box, but characters are masked:

hidden

A hidden text box, for submitting invisible information along with the form (you can see it in the source):

checkbox

A checkbox allows the user to select multiple choices: Checkbox

radio

A radiobutton allows the user to select between a range of values: Radiobutton

submit

A submit control will submit the surrounding form:

reset

A reset control will reset all the fields of the surrounding form to the initial value:

button

A button control won't do anything by it self, and is mostly used for scripting purposes:

image

An image control allows you to create a button rendered as an image, using the src attribute:

file

The file control is for doing file uploads. The control only allows the user to select a local file - you will have to handle the processing of the file yourself:

 

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