Are you using HTML 5 and the new form input types with the form elements on your sites and apps? Especially on your mobile apps? If you are, then I say THANK YOU!
If you are not, and I am attempting to fill in your form on my smart phone, I’m probably cursing your name.
A Primer for Those Who Need It
What are input types? I’m sure you’ve used them if you’ve built a form. Before HTML5, most input types were text. <input type=”text”> New input types that came along with HTML5 are
- search
- website
- phone
- range
- number
- date
- time
- color
When you use the proper input type, a mobile device will display a screen or keyboard intended to help you complete your task. For example, if you use <input type=”search”> you get a search box automatically.
If you use <input type=”email”> You get a keyboard with an @ sign and a dot (.) right on top.
Similar keyboard goodies happen with the other input types: phone gives you a number pad, date gives you a calendar, and so on.
If you haven’t started using the new form input types yet, why the hell aren’t you?