Formwas

Formwas is a hypothetical framework described here for illustrating how high-level form descriptors could be used to generate and validate digital forms. The term blends form with the English past tense was to signal the translation from static specification to dynamic behavior. It is not an established standard.

Concept and goals: Formwas aims to standardize how forms are described, rendered, and validated across platforms, reducing duplication and increasing consistency. It emphasizes declarative form descriptors, automatic data-model mapping, accessibility, and synchronized client–server validation.

Architecture: The framework comprises a form descriptor language (FDL), a rendering engine, a validation engine, and a data-model mapper. The FDL lists fields, types, validation rules, layout hints, and localization. The rendering engine creates interfaces for web and mobile; the validators enforce rules on input and ensure data conforms to the target schema. The data-model mapper aligns submitted data with back-end structures.

Workflow and use cases: A designer writes an FDL file; tools generate the UI, default values, and error messages, and map submitted data to a backend schema. It is applicable to enterprise forms, surveys, and portals requiring consistent forms and accessibility, as well as multi-language deployments.

Relation to existing work: Formwas concepts overlap with form-generation tools, schema-driven forms, and model-driven architectures. The term remains a hypothetical construct used for explanatory purposes.