formib

Formib is a conceptual data format designed to encapsulate the structure, state, and metadata of digital forms for cross-platform rendering and validation. It provides a portable representation of a form, including its fields, layout hints, validation rules, and submission metadata, enabling form builders and applications to exchange and render forms without platform-specific dependencies.

The Formib model centers on a root object that includes an identifier, version, and an array of fields. Each field specifies its type, name, label, required flag, and a set of constraints or validators. Optional properties cover layout hints, help text, default values, and dynamic visibility logic. The specification supports conditional fields, field groups, and nested subforms, as well as event hooks that can trigger on value changes or submission events.

Formib is used in content management systems, mobile and web app frameworks, and offline data collection to standardize form definitions and support consistent rendering across devices and languages. By exporting a form as a Formib object, applications can render, validate, and store responses in a uniform format, reducing integration work for multi-channel deployments.

History and adoption notes that Formib originated as a proposed open standard within developer communities in the early 2020s. Since then, several organizations have published implementations that provide core compatibility while differing on extended features. Security and performance considerations emphasize careful handling of dynamic rules and large form definitions.

Variants and implementations include Formib Core for minimal forms and Formib Plus for advanced features such as scripting rules, computed fields, and audit trails. See also JSON, JSON Schema, form rendering engines, and UI form definition languages. References to formal Formib specifications can be found in project repositories and vendor documentation.