I just thought I’d post about a few things that you should be doing with your forms and also a few things I just like to do.
Use Labels
I still don’t understand why there are a load of people who don’t use labels within their forms. They’re more semantic that using strong tags like alot of people seem to do. They’re also more user friendly. Also they’re useful for styling your forms.
The LABEL element may be used to attach information to controls. Each LABEL element is associated with exactly one form control.
And here’s how you’d use it in your code:
<label for="username">Username</label>
<input type="text" name="username" id="username" />Which gives you:
Now, when a user clicks on the label it will focus on the form item specified by the for attribute. Hooray.
User the Pointer Cursor
Here’s the CSS:
label, button, input.button
{
cursor: pointer;
}Easy. It does require you to add a class to submit and reset buttons, but hey it’s a small sacrifice.
Focus on the First Field
Having to click on the first form field I want to fill in is a pain in the ass. Don’t make me do it. Here’s a quick jQuery function to do it for you:
$(document).ready(function() {
$('input[type=text]:first').focus();
});No Confusing Buttons
If you have a submit button and a reset button, or anything similiar, make sure people can tell the difference. I don’t want to fill in your huge form and then find I’ve accidentally clicked the reset button instead of the submit button.
An example is shown below:
Submit buttons on the left and sub actions on the right, see:
Always put the Submit Form button on the left and on the Clear Form button on the right. Never, ever put the Submit Form button on the right and the Clear form button on the left.
See?
I’ll post more when as they come to me, in my bizarre usability dreams. Feel free to post your own tips. Or to tell me that I know nothing at all about anything.
More Reading
- HighRankings Forum: Collected Web Site Usability Tips
- Usability Features – The Label Element
- What Makes a Web Form Usable or Unusable
- 7 Steps to Useable Forms
- Sensible Forms: A Form Usability Checklist
- QA Checklist: Form Usability
(Possibly) Related Posts
If you found this post or anything else on this site of any use, then please take the time to recommend me on Working with Rails.
