Webformen

Webformen, or web forms, are a mechanism on the World Wide Web for collecting user input and sending it to a server for processing. They are built with the HTML form element and a set of input controls such as text fields, checkboxes, radio buttons, selects, and textareas, together with a submit button.

A form defines an action URL and a submission method, usually GET or POST. Upon submission, the browser encodes the input data (default application/x-www-form-urlencoded) and transmits it to the server, where server-side processing returns a response, which may be a new page or an update via AJAX.

HTML5 adds new input types (email, url, number, date, etc.), built-in validation attributes (required, pattern, minlength), and improved client-side validation. JavaScript can enhance validation and enable asynchronous submission without reloading.

Accessibility is essential in webforms. Each control should be associated with a label; keyboard navigation, focus management, and appropriate ARIA attributes help screen readers and users with disabilities.

Security and privacy concerns include input sanitization, CSRF protection, and transport security via TLS. Server-side validation remains necessary, and privacy laws such as the GDPR influence form design, data retention, and consent. Avoid sending sensitive data in URLs when using GET.

In practice, forms are used across websites and applications, often supported by form builders and back-end frameworks. They continue to evolve with client-side frameworks and API-based submission, supporting real-time validation and progressive enhancement.