4.1 The <fieldset> Element
Grouping form elements helps logically combine related elements, improving form structure and making it more user-friendly. HTML provides two tags for grouping form elements: <fieldset> and <legend>.
The <fieldset> element is used to group related form elements within a <form>. Visually this element is usually displayed as a border around the grouped elements, which helps users understand which fields belong to one group.
Example of usage:
In this example, we see two groups of form elements: "Personal Information" and "Account Details", each enclosed by a <fieldset> element and provided with a <legend> title.
HTML
<form action="/submit" method="post">
<fieldset>
<legend>Personal Information</legend>
<label for="name">Name:</label>
<input type="text" id="name" name="name" required>
<label for="email">Email:</label>
<input type="email" id="email" name="email" required>
</fieldset>
<fieldset>
<legend>Account Details</legend>
<label for="username">Username:</label>
<input type="text" id="username" name="username" required>
<label for="password">Password:</label>
<input type="password" id="password" name="password" required>
</fieldset>
<button type="submit" id="submit">Submit</button>
</form>
<script>
const inputs = document.getElementsByTagName("input");
const submit = document.getElementById("submit");
submit.addEventListener("click", (e) => {
e.preventDefault();
const values = [];
let allValid = true;
for (let input of inputs) {
if (!input.validity.valid) {
allValid = false;
break;
}
values.push(input.value);
}
if (allValid) {
alert(
"Personal Information:\n" +
`Name: ${values[0]}\n` +
`Email: ${values[1]}\n\n` +
"Account Details:\n" +
`Username: ${values[2]}\n` +
`Password: ${values[3]}`
);
} else {
alert("Please fill out all fields");
}
});
</script>
HTML
<form>
<fieldset>
<legend>Personal Information</legend>
<label for="name">Name:</label>
<input type="text" id="name" name="name">
<label for="email">Email:</label>
<input type="email" id="email" name="email">
</fieldset>
<fieldset>
<legend>Account Details</legend>
<label for="username">Username:</label>
<input type="text" id="username" name="username">
<label for="password">Password:</label>
<input type="password" id="password" name="password">
</fieldset>
<input type="submit" value="Submit">
</form>
Main attributes of <fieldset>:
Attribute disabled: makes all elements inside <fieldset> unavailable to the user (they cannot be changed and will not be submitted to the server).
HTML
<fieldset disabled>
<legend>Disabled Group</legend>
<label for="disabled-field">This field is disabled:</label>
<input type="text" id="disabled-field" name="disabled-field">
</fieldset>
4.2 The <legend> Element
The <legend> element is used to add a title to a group of elements created using <fieldset>. It helps users understand the purpose and context of the group of form fields.
Example of usage:
HTML
<fieldset>
<legend>Contact Information</legend>
<label for="phone">Phone Number:</label>
<input type="tel" id="phone" name="phone">
<label for="address">Address:</label>
<input type="text" id="address" name="address">
</fieldset>
Features of the <legend> element:
- Location: the
<legend>element is always placed inside a<fieldset>, and its position is usually at the top of the border. - Text: the text inside
<legend>describes the group of form fields, helping users quickly navigate the form.
Useful tips for using <fieldset> and <legend>
- Logical grouping: use
<fieldset>and<legend>for logical grouping of form elements — this will make the form more organized and understandable for users. - Accessibility:
<fieldset>and<legend>elements improve form accessibility, helping users with assistive technology understand the structure and content of the form. - Style and design: use CSS to style
<fieldset>and<legend>to enhance the appearance of the form.
4.3 Examples of Using <fieldset> and <legend>
Registration form with field grouping:
HTML
<form action="/submit" method="post">
<fieldset>
<legend>Personal Details</legend>
<label for="fname">First Name:</label>
<input type="text" id="fname" name="fname" required>
<label for="lname">Last Name:</label>
<input type="text" id="lname" name="lname" required>
</fieldset>
<fieldset>
<legend>Login Information</legend>
<label for="username">Username:</label>
<input type="text" id="username" name="username" required>
<label for="password">Password:</label>
<input type="password" id="password" name="password" required>
</fieldset>
<button type="submit" id="submit">Submit</button>
</form>
<script>
const inputs = document.getElementsByTagName("input");
const submit = document.getElementById("submit");
submit.addEventListener("click", (e) => {
e.preventDefault();
const values = [];
let allValid = true;
for (let input of inputs) {
if (!input.validity.valid) {
allValid = false;
break;
}
values.push(input.value);
}
if (allValid) {
alert(
"Personal Details:\n" +
`First name: ${values[0]}\n` +
`Last Name: ${values[1]}\n\n` +
"Login information:\n" +
`Username: ${values[2]}\n` +
`Password: ${values[3]}`
);
} else {
alert("Please fill out all fields");
}
});
</script>
HTML
<form>
<fieldset>
<legend>Personal Details</legend>
<label for="fname">First Name:</label>
<input type="text" id="fname" name="fname">
<label for="lname">Last Name:</label>
<input type="text" id="lname" name="lname">
</fieldset>
<fieldset>
<legend>Login Information</legend>
<label for="username">Username:</label>
<input type="text" id="username" name="username">
<label for="password">Password:</label>
<input type="password" id="password" name="password">
</fieldset>
<input type="submit" value="Register">
</form>
Form with different types of data:
HTML
<form action="/auth" method="post">
<fieldset>
<legend>Contact Information</legend>
<label for="email">Email:</label>
<input type="email" id="email" name="email" required>
<label for="phone">Phone Number:</label>
<input type="tel" id="phone" name="phone" required>
</fieldset>
<fieldset>
<legend>Preferences</legend>
<label for="newsletter">Subscribe to newsletter:</label>
<input type="checkbox" id="newsletter" name="newsletter">
<label for="updates">Receive updates:</label>
<input type="checkbox" id="updates" name="updates">
</fieldset>
<button type="submit" id="submit">Submit</button>
</form>
<script>
const form = document.querySelector("form");
const inputs = form.querySelectorAll("input");
const submit = document.getElementById("submit");
submit.addEventListener("click", (e) => {
e.preventDefault();
let email = "";
let phone = "";
let newsletter = 0;
let updates = 0;
let allValid = true;
inputs.forEach((input) => {
if (input.type === "email" && (!input.validity.valid)) {
allValid = false;
} else if (input.type === "tel" && (!input.validity.valid)) {
allValid = false;
}
if (input.type === "email") {
email = input.value;
} else if (input.type === "tel") {
phone = input.value;
} else if (input.type === "checkbox") {
if (input.id === "newsletter") {
newsletter = input.checked ? 1 : 0;
} else if (input.id === "updates") {
updates = input.checked ? 1 : 0;
}
}
});
if (allValid) {
alert(
"Contact Information\n" +
`Email: ${email}\n` +
`Phone Number: ${phone}\n\n` +
"Preferences\n" +
`Subscribe to newsletter: ${newsletter}\n` +
`Receive updates: ${updates}`
);
} else {
alert("Email and Phone fields must be filled");
}
});
</script>
HTML
<form>
<fieldset>
<legend>Contact Information</legend>
<label for="email">Email:</label>
<input type="email" id="email" name="email">
<label for="phone">Phone Number:</label>
<input type="tel" id="phone" name="phone">
</fieldset>
<fieldset>
<legend>Preferences</legend>
<label for="newsletter">Subscribe to newsletter:</label>
<input type="checkbox" id="newsletter" name="newsletter">
<label for="updates">Receive updates:</label>
<input type="checkbox" id="updates" name="updates">
</fieldset>
<input type="submit" value="Submit">
</form>
CSS
fieldset {
border: 2px solid #ccc;
padding: 20px;
}
legend {
font-weight: bold;
padding: 0 10px;
}
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