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HTML/CSS - 2

What will we learn today?​

Learning Objectives​

Learning objectives for this lesson can be found here

Coursework review​

We open our class with live coding and group debugging using trainees' coursework as material. This session is an opportunity to work through common problems with coursework and also to demonstrate productive code review and debugging strategies. Use Devtools and live code.

Forms​

On many websites, the user can enter data into the website. This is done using a web form, which contains form controls such as text input fields.

In HTML, we create a form using the form element, and create input fields within it.

Form controls​

HTML provides several form controls for us to use. Every form control must have a label and should have a name.

tip

Form controls don't inherit font styling in some browsers. We can make sure it uses the defined font by using the following CSS.

button,
input,
select,
textarea {
  font-family: inherit;
  font-size: 100%;
}

Text input fields​

When we want the user to enter text, we can use a text input field in our form.

We can use <input type="text"> to create a single-line text input, like in the following example.

<input type="text" />
Interactive example

However, as a user, what are we supposed to enter here? There is no information to tell us what to enter!

To provide this information, we use a label element. We:

  • Create a label element
  • Add an id to the input
  • Add a for attribute with the same id to the label to connect it to the input
<label for="username">Username</label>
<input id="username" type="text" name="username" />
Interactive example

Now we can see that we are supposed to enter a username!

We can also choose a different type other than text to suit our needs, such as type="password" to show the input text as asterisks. If you want to view more input types, visit the MDN input types page.

If we want the user to enter multiple lines, we can use <textarea> instead, like in the following example.

<label for="description">Description</label>
<textarea id="description" cols="50" rows="5"></textarea>
Interactive example

Radio input fields​

When we want the user to select a single choice out of a list of options, we can use radio inputs in our form.

We can use <input type="radio"> to create a radio input, like in the following example. When creating a group of radio inputs, we should give each radio input the same name so we can indicate that each option is part of the same list. We can also use the checked attribute to make an option selected by default.

<input id="small" type="radio" name="size" value="small" />
<label for="small">Small</label>

<input id="medium" type="radio" name="size" value="medium" checked />
<label for="medium">Medium</label>

<input id="large" type="radio" name="size" value="large" />
<label for="large">Large</label>
Interactive example

However, as a user, what does small, medium and large refer to? Even though each radio input has a label, there is no information to tell us what our choice means!

For a group of radio inputs, we can wrap the inputs in a fieldset with a legend to add a label to the group of inputs to give it meaning.

<fieldset>
  <legend>Coffee size</legend>

  <input id="small" type="radio" name="size" value="small" />
  <label for="small">Small</label>

  <input id="medium" type="radio" name="size" value="medium" />
  <label for="medium">Medium</label>

  <input id="large" type="radio" name="size" value="large" />
  <label for="large">Large</label>
</fieldset>
Interactive example
Coffee size

Now we can see that we are choosing the size of a cup of coffee!

tip

Fieldsets are rendered with a black border by default. However, it is uncommon nowadays to see this style in forms.

This does not mean we should use another HTML element instead for a different look. As we learned in lesson 1, we should always use the correct HTML structure, then use CSS afterwards to style our website. So when we create groups of inputs, we should always wrap them in a fieldset with legend, then use CSS to change the style to our desired look.

Checkbox input fields​

When we want the user to toggle a choice, or select multiple choices out of a list of options, we can use checkbox inputs.

We can use <input type="checkbox"> to create a checkbox input, like in the following example.

<input id="agreement" type="checkbox" name="agreement" />
<label for="agreement">I agree you are the best mentor in HOSTEDMINDS</label>
Interactive example

Like with radio inputs:

  • When creating a group of checkboxes, we should give each checkbox the same name so we can indicate that each option is part of the same list.
  • We should add a label to the group of checkbox inputs using fieldset and legend.
  • We can make checkbox inputs checked by default by using the checked attribute.
<fieldset>
  <legend>Fruit I like</legend>

  <input id="apples" type="checkbox" name="favourite-fruit" value="apples" />
  <label for="apples">Apples</label>

  <input id="bananas" type="checkbox" name="favourite-fruit" value="bananas" />
  <label for="bananas">Bananas</label>

  <input id="oranges" type="checkbox" name="favourite-fruit" value="oranges" />
  <label for="oranges">Oranges</label>
</fieldset>
Interactive example
Fruit I like

Select input fields​

When we want the user to select a single choice out of a list of options, we can use a select input in our form.

We can use the select and option elements to create a dropdown of values for the user to select, like in the following example. We can also use the selected attribute to make an option selected by default.

<label for="cuisine">Favourite cuisine</label>
<select id="cuisine" name="cuisine">
  <option value="scottish" selected>Scottish</option>
  <option value="italian">Italian</option>
  <option value="french">French</option>
  <option value="polish">Polish</option>
  <option value="romanian">Romanian</option>
  <option value="greek">Greek</option>
  <option value="mexican">Mexican</option>
  <option value="turkish">Turkish</option>
  <option value="lebanese">Lebanese</option>
  <option value="syrian">Syrian</option>
  <option value="moroccan">Moroccan</option>
  <option value="ethiopian">Ethiopian</option>
  <option value="nigerian">Nigerian</option>
  <option value="indian">Indian</option>
  <option value="chinese">Chinese</option>
  <option value="thai">Thai</option>
  <option value="korean">Korean</option>
  <option value="japanese">Japanese</option>
</select>
Interactive example
tip

Both radio and select inputs allow the user to select one choice out of many. When do we know which one to use?

A helpful guideline is if there are only a few options to choose from (less than 5), use radio inputs. If there are lots of options to choose from, use a select input.

Labels​

Every form control must have a label. Firstly, this is important for users to see what they should enter into the form. Secondly, there are visually-impaired users that use screen readers to interact with websites. When screen reader users navigate to a form control, the screen reader reads out the label so the user can understand what to enter into the form. Without a label, the screen reader user does not get a description of what they are supposed to enter.

There are two ways to associate a label with an input. The first way is by connecting the label and input using for and id as we have seen. This is the preferred way as it is more explicit.

<label for="username">Username</label>
<input id="username" type="text" name="username" />

The second way is by wrapping the input within the label.

<label>
  Username
  <input type="text" name="username" />
</label>

It is also important that every group of radio and checkbox inputs is wrapped in a fieldset with a legend, which we've seen in the radio input fields section. Again, when screen reader users navigate to this group of inputs, they will understand what the website is asking them to choose.

Another feature of labels is that the user can click on the label to activate the form control. This provides a larger clickable area to select the form control, and can be beneficial to users who have motor disabilities.

tip

It is quite common to add placeholders to text inputs. Adding only placeholders is bad practice, because it is not guaranteed to be read out by screen readers. Default styles for placeholders can also have poor colour contrast, which means visually-impaired users might not be able to read it.

In summary, always give every form control a label.

Form validation​

We can add attributes to our form controls to prevent the form from being submitted when there are invalid values. The following example demonstrates some of the attributes we can use.

<form>
  <label for="username">Username that must be between 3 and 8 characters</label>
  <input id="username" type="text" minlength="3" maxlength="8" required />

  <label for="email">Email that is required</label>
  <input id="email" type="email" required />

  <label for="password"
    >Password that can autocomplete with a suggested new password</label
  >
  <input id="password" type="password" autocomplete="new-password" required />

  <label for="age">Age that must be between 18 and 118</label>
  <input id="age" type="number" min="18" max="118" required />

  <label for="disabled">Disabled input</label>
  <input id="disabled" type="text" value="You cannot click me" disabled />

  <label for="read-only">Read-only input</label>
  <input
    id="read-only"
    type="text"
    value="You can only read my value"
    readonly
  />

  <button>Submit</button>
</form>
Interactive example

If you want to view more input attributes, visit the MDN input attributes page.

Form submission​

Finally, to let the user submit the form, we can add a button within the form element.

  • A button within a form will submit it.
  • Pressing the Enter key when on a form control within a form will also submit it.

To prevent a button from submitting the form, we can add type="button" to the button.

<form>
  <label for="search">Search</label>
  <input id="search" type="text" />

  <button>I will submit the form</button>
  <button type="button">I will not submit the form</button>
</form>
Interactive example

Websites typically handle form submissions in one of two ways. They will either:

  1. Send the form to the web server, or
  2. Handle the form using JavaScript.

Server-side form submission​

To tell the form to submit itself to the server, we need to provide it with action and method attributes.

  • action tells the browser which URL to submit the form to
  • method tells the browser what type of request it is. Usually this is either a GET (asking for something) or a POST (updating something) request. GET and POST requests will be covered in more detail in the JavaScript module.

The form values are converted into key-value pairs and are sent along in the request.

In the following example, if we type in codeyourfuture into the input field and submit the form, the browser will send the q=codeyourfuture key-value pair to https://duckduckgo.com in the format https://duckduckgo.com?q=codeyourfuture.

<form action="https://duckduckgo.com" method="get">
  <label for="search">Search</label>
  <input id="search" type="submit" name="q" />
  <button>Search DuckDuckGo</button>
</form>
Interactive example
Exercise (30 minutes)

Create a form that performs a search on GitHub. It should:

  • Make a GET request to https://github.com/search
  • Have a dropdown to select how the results should be sort by, with the name as s and possible values as stars, forks and updated.
  • Have a set of radio options for the sort order, with name as o and possible values as desc and asc
  • Have a search input field with name as q

If you want to open the search results in a new tab, you can add target="_blank" to the form.

Client-side form submission​

If we want to handle the form using JavaScript instead, we don't add action and method attributes. Instead, we can use addEventListener to execute JavaScript on submission of the form. Additionally, we can use FormData or the Constraint Validation API to help us when working with forms.

However, as we haven't covered JavaScript yet, don't worry about this right now. We'll cover it later in the course.

Form security​

Forms are one way in which users can enter data to a website. However, this also means that malicious users can enter malicious data into your website to try to break it or compromise it! In software, we follow the rule that we never trust user input.

Learning about web security is outside the scope of this module, but if you want an introduction to web security, visit the MDN website security page.

PD (Active listening)​

Session objective: This section explores active listening techniques, good listenings habits and offers tips for better listening skills.

Exercise (10 min)

Exercise objective: Identify feelings resulting from passive listening

  1. Group splits into two (A & B)
  2. Bs leave the room and wait outside
  3. Instruction for As: Whilst listening to their partner, As will put their hand up for five seconds everytime their partner says something that evokes As 'inner voice' (e.g. they want to ask a question, makes them think about something etc.). They do this for the entire conversation. They are not allowed to interact with Bs; ask questions, affirm understanding, etc. They just raise their hand every time their inner voice kicks in.
  4. Instruction for Bs: Bs will speak to As about something of interest to themselves; an experience, last holiday, anything positive that has happened in the last six months. They have three minutes to talk.
  5. Bs come back into the room, each trainee from group B pairs up with another trainee from group As.
  6. Bs talk for three minutes to their pairs.
  7. At the end of the three minutes groups switch, and they repeat the exercise the other way around.
  8. At the end of the second three minutes, trainees discuss how they felt while talking or listening to their pairs, and what emotions were evoked.

Active listening slides

Exercise (15 min)

Exercise objective: To reflect on learning and come up with practical ideas for communication challenges

Step 1: Write down in bullet points how you can build trust within a team

Step 2: Write down in bullet points how you will show empathy and concern for others

Step 3: Write down how you will seek clarity if someone in your group is not clear, and clarify when someone has misunderstood what you are trying to say

Step 4: Write down three open-ended questions which will help you to de-escalate a conflict in your group

When completed, volunteer to present your ideas to the class.

Coursework​

Click here to view the coursework for this lesson.

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