ID vs. Name in Form Fields [StartupCTO]

Last Updated: 27 Jun 2023

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Author: dordal

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- front-end-tech:xhtml:id-vs.-name-in-form-fields [May 24, 2008 01:05 AM]
dordal
+++ front-end-tech:xhtml:id-vs.-name-in-form-fields [Jun 25, 2023 07:25 PM]
110.249.202.42 removed
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+= ID vs. Name in Form Fields =
+When creating a form field, you should give them both an ''id'' and a ''name'':
+<code html>
+<form>
+<input type='text' id='formField1' name='formField1' />
+<input type='text' id='formField2' name='formField2' />
+</form>
+</code>
+This is because browsers use the ''name'' field when they submit to a server, but when working with JavaScript it's best to use ''id'' (and the associated ''document.getElementById()'') to identify elements. You could use something like ''document.getElementsByName()'', but it is a lot harder to work with, because names aren't guaranteed to be unique and thus that function returns a collection of elements, not just one.
+You should also always name your ''name'' and ''id'' the same thing (and not reuse that identifier anywhere else), because of IE's poor implementation of ''getElementById()'' which can sometimes [[http://www.456bereastreet.com/archive/200802/beware_of_id_and_name_attribute_mixups_when_using_getelementbyid_in_internet_explorer/|return an element whose 'name' matches the 'id' you asked for.]]
+Conclusion? **Always use both, make them the same string, and make that string unique in the document.**