Form Validation with JavaScript
The form validation process typically consists of two parts— the required fields validation which is performed to make sure that all the mandatory fields are filled in, and the data format validation which is performed to ensure that the type and format of the data entered in the form is valid.
Well, let's get straight to it and see how this actually works.
Creating the HTML Form
Let's first create a simple HTML form that we will validate on client-side using JavaScript when the user clicks on the submit button. Well, let's create an HTML file named "application-form.html" and place the following code in it, then save it somewhere on your system.
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<title>Simple HTML Form</title>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="style.css">
<script src="validator.js"></script>
</head>
<body>
<form name="contactForm" onsubmit="return validateForm()" action="confirmation.php" method="post">
<h2>Application Form</h2>
<div class="row">
<label>Full Name</label>
<input type="text" name="name">
<div class="error" id="nameErr"></div>
</div>
<div class="row">
<label>Email Address</label>
<input type="text" name="email">
<div class="error" id="emailErr"></div>
</div>
<div class="row">
<label>Mobile Number</label>
<input type="text" name="mobile" maxlength="10">
<div class="error" id="mobileErr"></div>
</div>
<div class="row">
<label>Country</label>
<select name="country">
<option>Select</option>
<option>Australia</option>
<option>India</option>
<option>United States</option>
<option>United Kingdom</option>
</select>
<div class="error" id="countryErr"></div>
</div>
<div class="row">
<label>Gender</label>
<div class="form-inline">
<label><input type="radio" name="gender" value="male"> Male</label>
<label><input type="radio" name="gender" value="female"> Female</label>
</div>
<div class="error" id="genderErr"></div>
</div>
<div class="row">
<label>Hobbies <i>(Optional)</i></label>
<div class="form-inline">
<label><input type="checkbox" name="hobbies[]" value="sports"> Sports</label>
<label><input type="checkbox" name="hobbies[]" value="movies"> Movies</label>
<label><input type="checkbox" name="hobbies[]" value="music"> Music</label>
</div>
</div>
<div class="row">
<input type="submit" value="Submit">
</div>
</form>
</body>
</html>Building the Form Validation Script
Now we're going to create a JavaScript file that holds our complete validation script.
Well, let's create a JavaScript file named "validator.js" and place the following code inside it, then save it at the same location where you've saved the previous HTML file. Go through each line of the following example code to understand how JavaScript validation works:
// Defining a function to display error message
function printError(elemId, hintMsg) {
document.getElementById(elemId).innerHTML = hintMsg;
}
// Defining a function to validate form
function validateForm() {
// Retrieving the values of form elements
var name = document.contactForm.name.value;
var email = document.contactForm.email.value;
var mobile = document.contactForm.mobile.value;
var country = document.contactForm.country.value;
var gender = document.contactForm.gender.value;
var hobbies = [];
var checkboxes = document.getElementsByName("hobbies[]");
for(var i=0; i < checkboxes.length; i++) {
if(checkboxes[i].checked) {
// Populate hobbies array with selected values
hobbies.push(checkboxes[i].value);
}
}
// Defining error variables with a default value
var nameErr = emailErr = mobileErr = countryErr = genderErr = true;
// Validate name
if(name == "") {
printError("nameErr", "Please enter your name");
} else {
var regex = /^[a-zA-Z\s]+$/;
if(regex.test(name) === false) {
printError("nameErr", "Please enter a valid name");
} else {
printError("nameErr", "");
nameErr = false;
}
}
// Validate email address
if(email == "") {
printError("emailErr", "Please enter your email address");
} else {
// Regular expression for basic email validation
var regex = /^\S+@\S+\.\S+$/;
if(regex.test(email) === false) {
printError("emailErr", "Please enter a valid email address");
} else{
printError("emailErr", "");
emailErr = false;
}
}
// Validate mobile number
if(mobile == "") {
printError("mobileErr", "Please enter your mobile number");
} else {
var regex = /^[1-9]\d{9}$/;
if(regex.test(mobile) === false) {
printError("mobileErr", "Please enter a valid 10 digit mobile number");
} else{
printError("mobileErr", "");
mobileErr = false;
}
}
// Validate country
if(country == "Select") {
printError("countryErr", "Please select your country");
} else {
printError("countryErr", "");
countryErr = false;
}
// Validate gender
if(gender == "") {
printError("genderErr", "Please select your gender");
} else {
printError("genderErr", "");
genderErr = false;
}
// Prevent the form from being submitted if there are any errors
if((nameErr || emailErr || mobileErr || countryErr || genderErr) == true) {
return false;
} else {
// Creating a string from input data for preview
var dataPreview = "You've entered the following details: \n" +
"Full Name: " + name + "\n" +
"Email Address: " + email + "\n" +
"Mobile Number: " + mobile + "\n" +
"Country: " + country + "\n" +
"Gender: " + gender + "\n";
if(hobbies.length) {
dataPreview += "Hobbies: " + hobbies.join(", ");
}
// Display input data in a dialog box before submitting the form
alert(dataPreview);
}
};The value of an individual form field can be accessed and retrieved using the syntax document.formName.fieldName.value or document.getElementsByName(name).value. But, to get the values from a form field that supports multiple selections, like a group of checkboxes, you need to utilize the loop statement as shown in the example above (line no-14 to 21).
Also, to check whether the format of input data is correct or not we've used the regular expressions. It is one of the most effective techniques for validating the user inputs.
Furthermore, the above script will also display the data entered by the user in an alert dialog box for preview purpose before submitting the form to the web server.
Tip: However, you can validate email format using regular expression. But a user might enter an email that is correctly formatted but does not exist. So for authentic email validation, send confirmation email to the user and verify whether the email really exists or not.
Adding Style Sheet to Beautify the Form
Finally, create the file named "style.css" and place the following code in it, then save it also at the same location where you've saved the previous two files. These are the style rules to beautify our form.
body {
font-size: 16px;
background: #f9f9f9;
font-family: "Segoe UI", "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif;
}
h2 {
text-align: center;
text-decoration: underline;
}
form {
width: 300px;
background: #fff;
padding: 15px 40px 40px;
border: 1px solid #ccc;
margin: 50px auto 0;
border-radius: 5px;
}
label {
display: block;
margin-bottom: 5px
}
label i {
color: #999;
font-size: 80%;
}
input, select {
border: 1px solid #ccc;
padding: 10px;
display: block;
width: 100%;
box-sizing: border-box;
border-radius: 2px;
}
.row {
padding-bottom: 10px;
}
.form-inline {
border: 1px solid #ccc;
padding: 8px 10px 4px;
border-radius: 2px;
}
.form-inline label, .form-inline input {
display: inline-block;
width: auto;
padding-right: 15px;
}
.error {
color: red;
font-size: 90%;
}
input[type="submit"] {
font-size: 110%;
font-weight: 100;
background: #006dcc;
border-color: #016BC1;
box-shadow: 0 3px 0 #0165b6;
color: #fff;
margin-top: 10px;
cursor: pointer;
}
input[type="submit"]:hover {
background: #0165b6;
}That's all, now open the "application-form.html" file in a web browser and try to fill some data and see how the script respond when an invalid data is entered in a form field.
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