Text Inputs

Text inputs might be small and simple; however, they have a very powerful purpose, which is to connect users with the website in real time. They are built using HTML. Web developers can customise them in different ways. For example, they can hide passwords, set character limits, or allow users to review the information after entering it.

This section will break down a few important parts of information about text inputs. Readers will get a clear understanding of what they are and how to create them from scratch. This includes a breakdown of the different types of text inputs. For anyone learning to build websites, this element is a great starting point. It helps explain how users interact with web pages.

What are text inputs?

Websites provide simple boxes or fields where users type their information to move to the next step in their browsing journey. In technical terms, developers create text inputs using the <input> tag in HTML and set the type to "text." For example, the code <input type= “text” placeholder= “Enter your name”> creates a blank box on the page where the user can type their name in the blank box created by the code.  Some of the useful features that these inputs come with are:

• Add placeholders: Developers can add placeholders to guide the user inside the input box. It will disappear as soon as the user starts typing, and it helps them to know what type of information they should enter.
• Control inputs: Text inputs can control the input using attributes like “maxlength” or “read only”, which means they can limit the length of information that is entered. Or restrict the input data to some people and only allow them to read it. 
• Input validations: This validates whether or not the user has entered the required information. This can be verified by the website using simple HTML or JavaScript.
• Improves accessibility: Programmers can make the text inputs more accessible for visually impaired people by adding a <label> for extra screen reader facilities. This will make it easier for them to understand what the empty box is asking for. 
• Different types: Although most of the time people prefer to use only one input for text, HTML gives options for different types for email, passwords, or phone numbers. They look like the basic fields, but behave slightly differently in terms of security and flexibility. 

Different types of text inputs 

While designing a website, it is not simply enough to include a blank box for the users to type in their information. There are different types of text inputs for various purposes that guide the users to enter the correct format of data, whether it is a password or a phone number. 

The correct input box not only elevates the entire user experience but also reduces the chances of error or data leak. Below are a few types of text inputs that are accessible across all devices. Each one explains its purpose to help developers understand and make the right choices during the web development process.

Text

Developers most commonly use this as the default text input. It allows users to enter a small number of letters, numbers, and symbols. For example, when someone types their name or address on a website, they are using a text input—unless the developer manually adds specific formatting or restrictions.

Password 

The password text inputs are made for security. It hides the characters typed by the user. These are shown as symbols like asterisks (*) or dots (•). This prevents others from seeing the password on-screen. Although hidden visually, the password is still sent with the form data. To keep it safe, websites use encryption like HTTPS. This protects the data during transmission. Search engine crawlers cannot read password inputs. These fields are protected and not part of the page's public content.

Email

Email text inputs are used to collect the user's email addresses. It verifies if the text entered here matches the standard email format and straight away rejects the formats that do not follow the basic guidelines. This is to ensure that users make little or no mistakes while submitting an urgent form. 

Number

Developers design number input fields to accept only numeric values. However, there can be a few restrictions, such as setting a specific limit, minimum and maximum values, or no decimal values. For instance, a number text input code will be like <input type= “number” min= “1” max= “100”>. 

Search 

Web developers commonly use search text inputs to create search bars. They design these with slight variations to make it easy for users to recognise where they can type their questions.

URL 

Users enter webpage addresses into the URL text input field. This type of input checks whether the entered information follows the correct web address format, starting with either http:// or https://. If users make a mistake, the field immediately shows a message saying the address is incorrect or doesn’t match the expected format.

Steps to create text inputs

Creating text inputs in programming languages such as HTML or JavaScript is a simple process that allows users to input their details and personal information. However, developers often forget or neglect important steps, which causes the input box to not function as intended. Below are the key steps to follow to create a fully functional input box. 

1. Build a form tag - This is optional but extremely useful. It holds together the text box and design elements in one place. To build a form tag, simply begin with the line of code starting from <form>.
2. Add a label - It guides the users on what they type in the search box. For instance, if the website wants them to write their name, then it will be like <label for= “name”>.
3. Add a text box - This step is where the actual text input box is created. The code for this will be something like <input type= “text”>. This means that the search box is for typing text.
4. Finish the form - Once you finish adding everything in the code, finish the form with </form>.