loginForm

A login form is a user interface element used to authenticate users by collecting credentials such as a username or email address and a password. It is commonly presented on websites and applications and may include options for account recovery or new account creation.

Typical components include input fields for a username or email and for a password, an optional remember‑me checkbox, a submit button, and links for forgotten passwords or account signup. Some implementations provide social or single sign-on options as alternatives to entering credentials.

On submission, the form posts the credentials to an authentication endpoint. The server validates them, and upon success issues a session cookie or token to establish an authenticated session. If authentication fails, the user receives a generic error without revealing sensitive information; repeated failures may trigger rate limiting or account lockouts.

Security considerations include using HTTPS to protect data in transit, using appropriate input types and autocomplete attributes (for example autocomplete='username' and autocomplete='current-password'), employing server‑side validation, and protecting against CSRF. Passwords should be stored with proper hashing and salting; services often add multi-factor authentication and implement measures to deter credential stuffing and brute-force attacks. Accessibility considerations include labeling of fields, keyboard operability, and clear error messages.

From a usability perspective, forms should be responsive, provide focus management on errors, and avoid unnecessary fields. Managers should ensure compatibility with password managers and assistive technologies.

In HTML, a login form typically uses a form element with method='post' and an action to the authentication endpoint. Input elements use type='text' or 'email' for the username and type='password' for the password, with appropriate name attributes and autocomplete hints. Client-side validation can improve experience but should not replace server validation.