SubmitButtons

SubmitButtons are user interface controls that initiate the submission of a form. They are typically implemented as button elements with type="submit" or as input elements with type="submit". When activated, the browser collects the form data and sends it to the URL specified in the form’s action attribute using the method defined by the form (GET or POST). If the form has client-side validation, submission is blocked until validation succeeds.

In forms with multiple SubmitButtons, each button can have its own name or value. This allows the server to distinguish which button was pressed and to route processing accordingly, for example handling a “Save draft” action differently from a “Submit for review” action.

Accessibility and semantics are important. SubmitButtons should have clear, readable labels and be reachable via keyboard. Using the button element is generally preferred over input type="submit" because it supports richer content and styling, and it works reliably with assistive technologies.

In modern web applications, developers may intercept the submit event to perform custom validation, show confirmation dialogs, or trigger asynchronous requests. When multiple SubmitButtons exist, client-side code can set state to reflect the chosen action before proceeding with submission.

Best practices include providing immediate visual feedback during submission, disabling the button to prevent duplicate submissions, and ensuring the form includes accessible error messages. Security considerations emphasize server-side validation and protections such as CSRF tokens, since submission data must be trusted by the server regardless of client-side behavior.