24 KiB
| layout | title |
|---|---|
| page | Forms |
Bootstrap provides several form control styles, layout options, and custom components for creating a wide variety of forms.
Form controls
Bootstrap's form controls expand on our Rebooted form styles with classes. Use these classes to opt into their customized displays for a more consistent rendering across browsers and devices. The example form below demonstrates common HTML form elements that receive updated styles from Bootstrap with additional classes.
Remember, since Bootstrap utilizies the HTML5 doctype, all inputs must have a type attribute for proper rendering.
{% example html %}
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5Example block-level help text here.
Below is a complete list of the specific from controls supported by Bootstrap and the classes that customize them. Additional documentation is available for each group.
| Classes | Used for | Supported variations |
|---|---|---|
| {% markdown %}`.form-group`{% endmarkdown %} | Any group of form controls |
{% markdown %}Use with any block-level element like `` or ` `{% endmarkdown %}
|
| {% markdown %}`.form-control`{% endmarkdown %} | Textual inputs | {% markdown %}`text`, `password`, `datetime`, `datetime-local`, `date`, `month`, `time`, `week`, `number`, `email`, `url`, `search`, `tel`, `color`{% endmarkdown %} |
| Select menus | {% markdown %}`multiple`, `size`{% endmarkdown %} | |
| Textareas | N/A | |
| {% markdown %}`.form-control-file`{% endmarkdown %} | File inputs | {% markdown %}`file`{% endmarkdown %} |
|
{% markdown %}
`.radio` `.radio-inline` `.checkbox` `.checkbox-inline` {% endmarkdown %} |
Checkboxes and radios | N/A |
Form layouts
Since Bootstrap applies display: block and width: 100% to almost all our form controls, forms will by default stack vertically. Additional classes can be used to vary this layout on a per-form basis.
Form groups
The .form-group class is the easiest way to add some structure to forms. It's only purpose is to provide margin-bottom around a label and control pairing. As a bonus, since it's a class you can use it with <fieldset>s, <div>s, or nearly any other element.
{% example html %}
{% endexample %}Inline forms
Use the .inline-form class to to display a series of labels, form controls, and buttons on a single horizontal row. Form controls within inline forms behave differently:
- Controls are
display: inline-blockto provide alignment control viavertical-alignandmargin. - Controls receive
width: autoto override the Bootstrap defaultwidth: 100%. - Controls only appear inline in viewports that are at least 768px wide to account for narrow viewports on mobile devices.
Because of this, you may need to manually adddres the width and alignment of individual form controls. Lastly, as shown below, you should always include a <label> with each form control.
Visible labels
{% example html %}
Hidden labels
{% example html %}
{% example html %}
Using the Grid
For more structured form layouts, you can utilize Bootstrap's predefined grid classes (or mixins). Add the .row class to form groups and use the .col-* classes to specify the width of your labels and controls.
{% example html %}
Checkboxes and radios
Checkboxes are for selecting one or several options in a list, while radios are for selecting one option from many.
A checkbox or radio with the disabled attribute will be styled appropriately. To have the <label> for the checkbox or radio also display a "not-allowed" cursor when the user hovers over the label, add the .disabled class to your .radio, .radio-inline, .checkbox, .checkbox-inline, or <fieldset>.
Default (stacked)
{% example html %}
Inline
Use the .checkbox-inline or .radio-inline classes on a series of checkboxes or radios for controls that appear on the same line.
{% example html %} 1 2 3 {% endexample %}
{% example html %} 1 2 3 {% endexample %}
Without labels
Should you have no text within the <label>, the input is positioned as you'd expect. Currently only works on non-inline checkboxes and radios.
{% example html %}
Static controls
When you need to place plain text next to a form label within a form, use the .form-control-static class on a <p>.
{% example html %}
{% example html %}
Focus state
We remove the default outline styles on some form controls and apply a box-shadow in its place for :focus. Shown below is a custom input that only demonstrates the :focus state on an <input> with .form-control.
Disabled states
Add the disabled boolean attribute on an input to prevent user interactions. Disabled inputs appear lighter and add a not-allowed cursor.
{% highlight html %} {% endhighlight %}
Add the disabled attribute to a <fieldset> to disable all the controls within.
{% example html %}
{% callout warning %}
Caveat about link functionality of <a>
By default, browsers will treat all native form controls (<input>, <select> and <button> elements) inside a <fieldset disabled> as disabled, preventing both keyboard and mouse interactions on them. However, if your form also includes <a ... class="btn btn-*"> elements, these will only be given a style of pointer-events: none. As noted in the section about disabled state for buttons (and specifically in the sub-section for anchor elements), this CSS property is not yet standardized and isn't fully supported in Opera 18 and below, or in Internet Explorer 11, and won't prevent keyboard users from being able to focus or activate these links. So to be safe, use custom JavaScript to disable such links.
{% endcallout %}
{% callout danger %}
Cross-browser compatibility
While Bootstrap will apply these styles in all browsers, Internet Explorer 11 and below don't fully support the disabled attribute on a <fieldset>. Use custom JavaScript to disable the fieldset in these browsers.
{% endcallout %}
Readonly inputs
Add the readonly boolean attribute on an input to prevent modification of the input's value. Read-only inputs appear lighter (just like disabled inputs), but retain the standard cursor.<
{% example html %} {% endexample %}
Validation
Bootstrap includes validation styles for error, warning, and success states on form controls. To use, add .has-warning, .has-error, or .has-success to the parent element. Any .control-label, .form-control, and .help-block within that element will receive the validation styles.
{% callout warning %}
Conveying validation state to assistive technologies and colorblind users
Using these validation styles to denote the state of a form control only provides a visual, color-based indication, which will not be conveyed to users of assistive technologies - such as screen readers - or to colorblind users.
Ensure that an alternative indication of state is also provided. For instance, you can include a hint about state in the form control's <label> text itself (as is the case in the following code example), include a Glyphicon (with appropriate alternative text using the .sr-only class - see the Glyphicon examples), or by providing an additional help text block. Specifically for assistive technologies, invalid form controls can also be assigned an aria-invalid="true" attribute.
{% endcallout %}
{% example html %}
You can also add optional feedback icons with the addition of .has-feedback and the right icon.
{% callout warning %}
Icons, labels, and input groups
Manual positioning of feedback icons is required for inputs without a label and for input groups with an add-on on the right. You are strongly encouraged to provide labels for all inputs for accessibility reasons. If you wish to prevent labels from being displayed, hide them with the sr-only class. If you must do without labels, adjust the top value of the feedback icon. For input groups, adjust the right value to an appropriate pixel value depending on the width of your addon.
{% endcallout %}
{% example html %}
{% example html %}
{% example html %}
{% example html %}
For form controls with no visible label, add the .sr-only class on the label. Bootstrap will automatically adjust the position of the icon once it's been added.
{% example html %}
Control sizing
Set heights using classes like .input-lg, and set widths using grid column classes like .col-lg-*.
{% example html %}
{% endexample %}
Quickly size labels and form controls within .form-horizontal by adding .form-group-lg or .form-group-sm to existing .form-groups.
{% example html %}
Column sizing
Wrap inputs in grid columns, or any custom parent element, to easily enforce desired widths.
{% example html %}
Help text
Block level help text for form controls.
{% example html %}
A block of help text that breaks onto a new line and may extend beyond one line.
{% endexample %}