HTMLInputElement

The HTMLInputElement interface provides special properties and methods for manipulating the options, layout, and presentation of <input> elements.

Properties

Properties related to the parent form
form Read only HTMLFormElement object: Returns a reference to the parent <form> element.
formAction string: Returns / Sets the element's formaction attribute, containing the URI of a program that processes information submitted by the element. This overrides the action attribute of the parent form.
formEnctype string: Returns / Sets the element's formenctype attribute, containing the type of content that is used to submit the form to the server. This overrides the enctype attribute of the parent form.
formMethod string: Returns / Sets the element's formmethod attribute, containing the HTTP method that the browser uses to submit the form. This overrides the method attribute of the parent form.
formNoValidate A boolean value: Returns / Sets the element's formnovalidate attribute, indicating that the form is not to be validated when it is submitted. This overrides the novalidate attribute of the parent form.
formTarget string: Returns / Sets the element's formtarget attribute, containing a name or keyword indicating where to display the response that is received after submitting the form. This overrides the target attribute of the parent form.
Properties that apply to any type of input element that is not hidden
name string: Returns / Sets the element's name attribute, containing a name that identifies the element when submitting the form.
type string: Returns / Sets the element's type attribute, indicating the type of control to display. See type attribute of <input> for possible values.
disabled A boolean value: Returns / Sets the element's disabled attribute, indicating that the control is not available for interaction. The input values will not be submitted with the form. See also readonly
autofocus A boolean value: Returns / Sets the element's autofocus attribute, which specifies that a form control should have input focus when the page loads, unless the user overrides it, for example by typing in a different control. Only one form element in a document can have the autofocus attribute. It cannot be applied if the type attribute is set to hidden (that is, you cannot automatically set focus to a hidden control).
required A boolean value: Returns / Sets the element's required attribute, indicating that the user must fill in a value before submitting a form.
value string: Returns / Sets the current value of the control.

Note: If the user enters a value different from the value expected, this may return an empty string.

validity Read only ValidityState object: Returns the element's current validity state.
validationMessage Read only string: Returns a localized message that describes the validation constraints that the control does not satisfy (if any). This is the empty string if the control is not a candidate for constraint validation (willvalidate is false), or it satisfies its constraints. This value can be set by the setCustomValidity method.
willValidate Read only A boolean value: Returns whether the element is a candidate for constraint validation. It is false if any conditions bar it from constraint validation, including: its type is hidden, reset, or button; it has a <datalist> ancestor; its disabled property is true.
Properties that apply only to elements of type checkbox or radio
checked A boolean value: Returns / Sets the current state of the element when type is checkbox or radio.
defaultChecked A boolean value: Returns / Sets the default state of a radio button or checkbox as originally specified in HTML that created this object.
indeterminate A boolean value: Returns whether the checkbox or radio button is in indeterminate state. For checkboxes, the effect is that the appearance of the checkbox is obscured/greyed in some way as to indicate its state is indeterminate (not checked but not unchecked). Does not affect the value of the checked attribute, and clicking the checkbox will set the value to false.
Properties that apply only to elements of type image
alt string: Returns / Sets the element's alt attribute, containing alternative text to use when type is image.
height string: Returns / Sets the element's height attribute, which defines the height of the image displayed for the button, if the value of type is image.
src string: Returns / Sets the element's src attribute, which specifies a URI for the location of an image to display on the graphical submit button, if the value of type is image; otherwise it is ignored.
width string: Returns / Sets the element's width attribute, which defines the width of the image displayed for the button, if the value of type is image.
Properties that apply only to elements of type file
accept string: Returns / Sets the element's accept attribute, containing comma-separated list of file types accepted by the server when type is file.
allowdirs A boolean value: Part of the non-standard Directory Upload API; indicates whether or not to allow directories and files both to be selected in the file list. Implemented only in Firefox and is hidden behind a preference.
files Returns/accepts a FileList object, which contains a list of File objects representing the files selected for upload.
webkitdirectory A boolean value: Returns the webkitdirectory attribute; if true, the file system picker interface only accepts directories instead of files.
webkitEntries Array of FileSystemEntry objects: Describes the currently selected files or directories.
Properties that apply only to text/number-containing or elements
autocomplete string: Returns / Sets the element's autocomplete attribute, indicating whether the value of the control can be automatically completed by the browser. Ignored if the value of the type attribute is hidden, checkbox, radio, file, or a button type (button, submit, reset, image). Possible values are:
on: the browser can autocomplete the value using previously stored value
off: the user must explicity enter a value
max string: Returns / Sets the element's max attribute, containing the maximum (numeric or date-time) value for this item, which must not be less than its minimum (min attribute) value.
maxLength long: Returns / Sets the element's maxlength attribute, containing the maximum number of characters (in Unicode code points) that the value can have. (If you set this to a negative number, an exception will be thrown.)
min string: Returns / Sets the element's min attribute, containing the minimum (numeric or date-time) value for this item, which must not be greater than its maximum (max attribute) value.
minLength long: Returns / Sets the element's minlength attribute, containing the minimum number of characters (in Unicode code points) that the value can have. (If you set this to a negative number, an exception will be thrown.)
pattern string: Returns / Sets the element's pattern attribute, containing a regular expression that the control's value is checked against. Use the title attribute to describe the pattern to help the user. This attribute applies when the value of the type attribute is text, search, tel, url or email; otherwise it is ignored.
placeholder string: Returns / Sets the element's placeholder attribute, containing a hint to the user of what can be entered in the control. The placeholder text must not contain carriage returns or line-feeds. This attribute applies when the value of the type attribute is text, search, tel, url or email; otherwise it is ignored.
readOnly boolean: Returns / Sets the element's readonly attribute, indicating that the user cannot modify the value of the control.
This is ignored if the value of the type attribute is hidden, range, color, checkbox, radio, file, or a button type.
selectionStart unsigned long: Returns / Sets the beginning index of the selected text. When nothing is selected, this returns the position of the text input cursor (caret) inside of the <input> element.
selectionEnd unsigned long: Returns / Sets the end index of the selected text. When there's no selection, this returns the offset of the character immediately following the current text input cursor position.
selectionDirection string: Returns / Sets the direction in which selection occurred. Possible values are:
forward if selection was performed in the start-to-end direction of the current locale
backward for the opposite direction
none if the direction is unknown
size unsigned long: Returns / Sets the element's size attribute, containing visual size of the control. This value is in pixels unless the value of type is text or password, in which case, it is an integer number of characters. Applies only when type is set to text, search, tel, url, email, or password; otherwise it is ignored.
Properties not yet categorized
defaultValue string: Returns / Sets the default value as originally specified in the HTML that created this object.
dirName string: Returns / Sets the directionality of the element.
accessKey string: Returns a string containing a single character that switches input focus to the control when pressed.
list Read only HTMLElement object: Returns the element pointed by the list attribute. The property may be null if no HTML element found in the same tree.
multiple A boolean value: Returns / Sets the element's multiple attribute, indicating whether more than one value is possible (e.g., multiple files).
files FileList array: Returns the list of selected files.
HTMLInputElement.labels Read only NodeList array: Returns a list of <label> elements that are labels for this element.
step string: Returns / Sets the element's step attribute, which works with min and max to limit the increments at which a numeric or date-time value can be set. It can be the string any or a positive floating point number. If this is not set to any, the control accepts only values at multiples of the step value greater than the minimum.
valueAsDate Date object: Returns / Sets the value of the element, interpreted as a date, or null if conversion is not possible.
valueAsNumber double: Returns the value of the element, interpreted as one of the following, in order:
  • A time value
  • A number
  • NaN if conversion is impossible
autocapitalize string: Defines the capitalization behavior for user input. Valid values are none, off, characters, words, or sentences.
inputmode Provides a hint to browsers as to the type of virtual keyboard configuration to use when editing this element or its contents.
HTMLInputElement.align

string: Represents the alignment of the element. Use CSS instead.

HTMLInputElement.useMap

string: Represents a client-side image map.

Methods

blur() Removes focus from the input element; keystrokes will subsequently go nowhere.
click() Simulates a click on the input element.
focus() Focuses on the input element; keystrokes will subsequently go to this element.
select() Selects all the text in the input element, and focuses it so the user can subsequently replace all of its content.
setSelectionRange() Selects a range of text in the input element (but does not focus it).
setRangeText() Replaces a range of text in the input element with new text.
setCustomValidity() Sets a custom validity message for the element. If this message is not the empty string, then the element is suffering from a custom validity error, and does not validate.
checkValidity() Returns a boolean value that is false if the element is a candidate for constraint validation, and it does not satisfy its constraints. In this case, it also fires an invalid event at the element. It returns true if the element is not a candidate for constraint validation, or if it satisfies its constraints.
reportValidity() Runs the checkValidity() method, and if it returns false (for an invalid input or no pattern attribute provided), then it reports to the user that the input is invalid in the same manner as if you submitted a form.
HTMLInputElement.stepDown()

Decrements the value by (step * n), where n defaults to 1 if not specified. Throws an INVALID_STATE_ERR exception:

  • if the method is not applicable to for the current type value,
  • if the element has no step value,
  • if the value cannot be converted to a number,
  • if the resulting value is above the max or below the min.
HTMLInputElement.stepUp()

Increments the value by (step * n), where n defaults to 1 if not specified. Throws an INVALID_STATE_ERR exception:

  • if the method is not applicable to for the current type value.,
  • if the element has no step value,
  • if the value cannot be converted to a number,
  • if the resulting value is above the max or below the min.
HTMLInputElement.mozSetFileArray()

Sets the files selected on the input to the given array of File objects. This is an alternative to mozSetFileNameArray() which can be used in frame scripts: a chrome script can open files as File objects and send them via message manager.

HTMLInputElement.mozGetFileNameArray()

Returns an array of all the file names from the input.

Events

Listen to these events using addEventListener() or by assigning an event listener to the oneventname property of this interface:

input

Fires when the value of an <input>, <select>, or <textarea> element has been changed. Note that this is actually fired on the HTMLElement interface and also applies to contenteditable elements, but we've listed it here because it is most commonly used with form input elements. Also available via the oninput event handler property.

invalid

Fired when an element does not satisfy its constraints during constraint validation. Also available via the oninvalid event handler property.

search

Fired when a search is initiated on an <input> of type="search". Also available via the onsearch event handler property.

selectionchange event

Fires when the text selection in a <input> element has been changed.

Specifications

Specification
HTML Standard (HTML)
# htmlinputelement

Browser compatibility

Desktop Mobile
Chrome Edge Firefox Internet Explorer Opera Safari WebView Android Chrome Android Firefox for Android Opera Android Safari on IOS Samsung Internet
HTMLInputElement
1
12
1
5.5
8
1
1
18
4
10.1
1
1.0
accept
1
12
1
6
≤12.1
1
1
18
4
≤12.1
1
1.0
align
1
12
1
5.5
≤12.1
1
1
18
4
≤12.1
1
1.0
alt
1
12
1
5.5
≤12.1
1
1
18
4
≤12.1
1
1.0
autocomplete
14
12
4
10
≤12.1
6
≤37
18
4
≤12.1
6
1.0
capture
No
No
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
checked
1
12
1
5.5
≤12.1
1
1
18
4
≤12.1
1
1.0
checkValidity
4
12
4
10
≤12.1
5
≤37
18
4
≤12.1
4
1.0
defaultChecked
1
12
1
5.5
≤12.1
1
1
18
4
≤12.1
1
1.0
defaultValue
1
12
1
5.5
≤12.1
1
1
18
4
≤12.1
1
1.0
dirName
17
79
No
No
≤12.1
6
≤37
18
No
≤12.1
6
1.0
disabled
1
12
1
5.5
≤12.1
1
1
18
4
≤12.1
1
1.0
files
1
12
3
10
This property is read-only.
≤12.1
4
≤37
18
4
≤12.1
3
1.0
form
1
12
1
5.5
≤12.1
1
1
18
4
≤12.1
1
1.0
formAction
9
12
4
10
≤12.1
5
≤37
18
4
≤12.1
4.2
1.0
formEnctype
9
12
4
10
≤12.1
5
≤37
18
4
≤12.1
4.2
1.0
formMethod
9
12
4
10
≤12.1
5
≤37
18
4
≤12.1
4.2
1.0
formNoValidate
4
12
4
10
≤12.1
5
≤37
18
4
≤12.1
4
1.0
formTarget
9
12
4
10
≤12.1
5
≤37
18
4
≤12.1
4.2
1.0
height
21
12
16
5.5
≤12.1
7
≤37
25
16
≤12.1
7
1.5
incremental
10
79
No
No
15
5
≤37
18
No
14
4.2
1.0
indeterminate
1
12
3.6
5.5
≤12.1
3
1
18
4
≤12.1
1
1.0
invalid_event
10
12
4
10
10
5
4
18
64
12
5
4.0
labels
6
18
56
No
≤12.1
5
≤37
18
56
≤12.1
4.2
1.0
list
20
12
4
10
≤12.1
12.1
≤37
25
4
≤12.1
12.2
1.5
max
4
12
16
10
≤12.1
5
≤37
18
16
≤12.1
4
1.0
maxLength
1
12
1
5.5
≤12.1
1
1
18
4
≤12.1
1
1.0
min
4
12
16
10
≤12.1
5
≤37
18
16
≤12.1
4
1.0
minLength
40
17
51
No
27
10.1
40
40
51
27
10.3
4.0
multiple
2
12
3.6
10
≤12.1
4
≤37
18
4
≤12.1
3.2
1.0
name
1
12
1
5.5
≤12.1
1
1
18
4
≤12.1
1
1.0
onsearch
1
79
No
No
15
1.3
1
18
No
14
1
1.0
pattern
4
12
4
10
≤12.1
5
≤37
18
4
≤12.1
4
1.0
placeholder
3
12
4
10
≤12.1
4
≤37
18
4
≤12.1
3.2
1.0
readOnly
1
12
1
5.5
≤12.1
1
1
18
4
≤12.1
1
1.0
reportValidity
40
17
49
No
27
10.1
40
40
64
27
10.3
4.0
required
4
12
4
10
≤12.1
5
≤37
18
4
≤12.1
4
1.0
search_event
1
79
No
No
15
2
1
18
No
14
1
1.0
select
1
12
1
5.5
≤12.1
1
1
18
4
≤12.1
1
1.0
selectionchange_event
No
No
92
No
No
No
No
No
92
No
No
No
selectionDirection
15
13
8
No
≤12.1
6
≤37
18
8
≤12.1
6
1.0
selectionEnd
1
12
1
9
≤12.1
1.3
1
18
4
≤12.1
1
1.0
selectionStart
1
12
1
9
≤12.1
1.3
1
18
4
≤12.1
1
1.0
setCustomValidity
4
12
4
10
≤12.1
5
≤37
18
4
≤12.1
4
1.0
setRangeText
24
79
27
No
15
7
≤37
25
27
14
7
1.5
setSelectionRange
1
12
1
9
8
3
1
18
4
10.1
1
1.0
size
1
12
1
5.5
≤12.1
1
1
18
4
≤12.1
1
1.0
src
1
12
1
5.5
≤12.1
1
1
18
4
≤12.1
1
1.0
step
5
12
16
10
≤12.1
5
≤37
18
16
≤12.1
4
1.0
stepDown
5
12
16
Does not have a specific UI. There are still differences with the latest spec; see bug 835773.
10
≤12.1
5
≤37
18
16
Does not have a specific UI. There are still differences with the latest spec; see bug 835773.
≤12.1
4
1.0
stepUp
5
12
16
Does not have a specific UI. There are still differences with the latest spec; see bug 835773.
10
≤12.1
5
≤37
18
16
Does not have a specific UI. There are still differences with the latest spec; see bug 835773.
≤12.1
4
1.0
type
1
12
1
5.5
≤12.1
1
1
18
4
≤12.1
1
1.0
useMap
1
12
1
6
≤12.1
1
1
18
4
≤12.1
1
1.0
validationMessage
5
12
4
10
≤12.1
5
≤37
18
4
≤12.1
4
1.0
validity
3
12
4
10
≤12.1
5
≤37
18
4
≤12.1
4
1.0
value
1
12
1
5.5
≤12.1
1
1
18
4
≤12.1
1
1.0
valueAsDate
5
12
57
20-24
No
≤12.1
5
≤37
18
57
20-24
≤12.1
4
1.0
valueAsNumber
5
12
16
10
≤12.1
5
≤37
18
16
≤12.1
4
1.0
webkitdirectory
6
13
50
No
15
11.1
≤37
18
50
14
11.3
1.0
webkitEntries
22
79
50
No
15
11.1
≤37
25
No
14
11.3
1.5
width
21
12
16
5.5
≤12.1
7
≤37
25
16
≤12.1
7
1.5
willValidate
1
12
4
10
≤12.1
4
≤37
18
4
≤12.1
3
1.0

See also

  • HTML element implementing this interface: <input>

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Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License v2.5 or later.
https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/HTMLInputElement