Bootstrap Forms

Bootstrap 5.3 Forms

Bootstrap provides comprehensive form styling including controls, layouts, validation states, and input groups.

Form Controls

Text Inputs

<div class="mb-3">
  <label for="email" class="form-label">Email address</label>
  <input type="email" class="form-control" id="email" placeholder="name@example.com">
</div>

<div class="mb-3">
  <label for="password" class="form-label">Password</label>
  <input type="password" class="form-control" id="password">
</div>

Sizing

To match input size with surrounding elements or emphasize important fields, use sizing classes. Use .form-control-lg for hero sections or primary CTAs. Use .form-control-sm for compact UIs like toolbars or inline forms.

<input class="form-control form-control-lg" type="text" placeholder="Large input">
<input class="form-control" type="text" placeholder="Default input">
<input class="form-control form-control-sm" type="text" placeholder="Small input">

Disabled and Readonly

Use disabled for fields users cannot interact with at all. Use readonly when values should be visible and selectable but not editable. Use .form-control-plaintext with readonly to display values without form styling.

<input class="form-control" type="text" disabled value="Disabled input">
<input class="form-control" type="text" readonly value="Readonly input">
<input class="form-control-plaintext" type="text" readonly value="Readonly plain text">

File Input

<div class="mb-3">
  <label for="file" class="form-label">Upload file</label>
  <input class="form-control" type="file" id="file">
</div>

<!-- Multiple files -->
<input class="form-control" type="file" multiple>

Color Picker

<div class="mb-3">
  <label for="color" class="form-label">Color picker</label>
  <input type="color" class="form-control form-control-color" id="color" value="#0d6efd">
</div>

Textarea

<div class="mb-3">
  <label for="textarea" class="form-label">Comments</label>
  <textarea class="form-control" id="textarea" rows="3"></textarea>
</div>

Help Text

Use .form-text for supplemental instructions. Connect help text to inputs with aria-describedby so screen readers announce it when the input is focused:

<div class="mb-3">
  <label for="password" class="form-label">Password</label>
  <input type="password" class="form-control" id="password" aria-describedby="passwordHelp">
  <div id="passwordHelp" class="form-text">Must be 8+ characters with one uppercase letter.</div>
</div>

When an input has both help text and validation feedback, reference both in aria-describedby:

<div class="mb-3">
  <label for="email" class="form-label">Email</label>
  <input type="email" class="form-control is-invalid" id="email"
         aria-describedby="emailHelp emailError" aria-invalid="true">
  <div id="emailHelp" class="form-text">We'll never share your email.</div>
  <div id="emailError" class="invalid-feedback">Please enter a valid email address.</div>
</div>

Select

<select class="form-select">
  <option selected>Choose an option</option>
  <option value="1">Option One</option>
  <option value="2">Option Two</option>
  <option value="3">Option Three</option>
</select>

<!-- Multiple select -->
<select class="form-select" multiple>
  <option value="1">One</option>
  <option value="2">Two</option>
  <option value="3">Three</option>
</select>

<!-- Sizing -->
<select class="form-select form-select-lg">...</select>
<select class="form-select form-select-sm">...</select>

<!-- Visible options with size attribute -->
<select class="form-select" size="3">
  <option value="1">One</option>
  <option value="2">Two</option>
  <option value="3">Three</option>
  <option value="4">Four</option>
</select>

The size attribute displays multiple options without requiring multiple selection. Unlike .form-select-lg which changes visual scale, size controls how many options are visible at once. Use it for small option lists where showing all choices improves usability.

Datalists

Datalists provide autocomplete suggestions for text inputs. They combine the flexibility of free-text input with the convenience of predefined options.

<label for="browser" class="form-label">Choose a browser</label>
<input class="form-control" list="browsers" id="browser" placeholder="Type to search...">
<datalist id="browsers">
  <option value="Chrome">
  <option value="Firefox">
  <option value="Safari">
  <option value="Edge">
  <option value="Opera">
</datalist>

Connect the input to the datalist using the list attribute matching the datalist's id. Users can type freely or select from suggestions. Datalist styling is browser-native and varies across browsers—Bootstrap's .form-control styles the input, but the dropdown appearance is not customizable.

Checkboxes and Radios

Checkboxes

<div class="form-check">
  <input class="form-check-input" type="checkbox" id="check1">
  <label class="form-check-label" for="check1">Default checkbox</label>
</div>
<div class="form-check">
  <input class="form-check-input" type="checkbox" id="check2" checked>
  <label class="form-check-label" for="check2">Checked checkbox</label>
</div>

Indeterminate Checkboxes

Use the indeterminate state for checkboxes representing a "partially checked" condition. This is useful for "select all" patterns where some but not all child items are checked. The state must be set via JavaScript—there is no HTML attribute for it.

<div class="form-check">
  <input class="form-check-input" type="checkbox" id="checkIndeterminate">
  <label class="form-check-label" for="checkIndeterminate">Select all items</label>
</div>

<script>
  document.getElementById('checkIndeterminate').indeterminate = true;
</script>

Radios

<div class="form-check">
  <input class="form-check-input" type="radio" name="radios" id="radio1" checked>
  <label class="form-check-label" for="radio1">First radio</label>
</div>
<div class="form-check">
  <input class="form-check-input" type="radio" name="radios" id="radio2">
  <label class="form-check-label" for="radio2">Second radio</label>
</div>

Switches

Prefer switches over checkboxes for on/off settings that take effect immediately, like enabling notifications or toggling dark mode. Use checkboxes for multi-select options or when changes require a submit action.

<div class="form-check form-switch">
  <input class="form-check-input" type="checkbox" role="switch" id="switch1">
  <label class="form-check-label" for="switch1">Default switch</label>
</div>
<div class="form-check form-switch">
  <input class="form-check-input" type="checkbox" role="switch" id="switch2" checked>
  <label class="form-check-label" for="switch2">Checked switch</label>
</div>

For iOS 17.4+ Safari, add the switch attribute to enable native haptic feedback:

<div class="form-check form-switch">
  <input class="form-check-input" type="checkbox" role="switch" id="nativeSwitch" switch>
  <label class="form-check-label" for="nativeSwitch">Native haptics (iOS 17.4+)</label>
</div>

Inline

<div class="form-check form-check-inline">
  <input class="form-check-input" type="checkbox" id="inline1">
  <label class="form-check-label" for="inline1">1</label>
</div>
<div class="form-check form-check-inline">
  <input class="form-check-input" type="checkbox" id="inline2">
  <label class="form-check-label" for="inline2">2</label>
</div>

Reverse Layout

Use .form-check-reverse to position the input on the opposite side—label first, checkbox/radio second. This creates a right-aligned input style useful for settings interfaces or RTL layouts.

<div class="form-check form-check-reverse">
  <input class="form-check-input" type="checkbox" id="reverseCheck">
  <label class="form-check-label" for="reverseCheck">Reverse checkbox</label>
</div>

<div class="form-check form-check-reverse">
  <input class="form-check-input" type="radio" name="reverseRadios" id="reverseRadio1">
  <label class="form-check-label" for="reverseRadio1">First reverse radio</label>
</div>

Toggle Buttons

Use .btn-check to create button-styled checkboxes and radios. Unlike standard form checks, toggle buttons use .btn classes on the label for a button appearance while maintaining checkbox/radio semantics. Use them for segmented controls, filter toggles, and option selectors.

Checkbox Toggle

<input type="checkbox" class="btn-check" id="btn-check" autocomplete="off">
<label class="btn btn-primary" for="btn-check">Single toggle</label>

<input type="checkbox" class="btn-check" id="btn-check-2" checked autocomplete="off">
<label class="btn btn-primary" for="btn-check-2">Checked</label>

<input type="checkbox" class="btn-check" id="btn-check-3" disabled autocomplete="off">
<label class="btn btn-primary" for="btn-check-3">Disabled</label>

Radio Toggle

Group radio toggles with the name attribute for single-select behavior:

<input type="radio" class="btn-check" name="options" id="option1" autocomplete="off" checked>
<label class="btn btn-secondary" for="option1">Checked</label>

<input type="radio" class="btn-check" name="options" id="option2" autocomplete="off">
<label class="btn btn-secondary" for="option2">Radio</label>

<input type="radio" class="btn-check" name="options" id="option3" autocomplete="off">
<label class="btn btn-secondary" for="option3">Radio</label>

Outlined Styles

Use .btn-outline-* for a lighter, bordered appearance:

<input type="checkbox" class="btn-check" id="btn-outlined" autocomplete="off">
<label class="btn btn-outline-primary" for="btn-outlined">Toggle</label>

<input type="radio" class="btn-check" name="opts" id="success" autocomplete="off" checked>
<label class="btn btn-outline-success" for="success">Success</label>

<input type="radio" class="btn-check" name="opts" id="danger" autocomplete="off">
<label class="btn btn-outline-danger" for="danger">Danger</label>

Accessibility

Toggle buttons are announced by screen readers as "checked"/"not checked" since they are fundamentally checkboxes or radios. This differs from button plugin toggles announced as "button"/"button pressed". Choose based on semantics—use toggle buttons when the control represents a true on/off or selection state.

Range

Range inputs provide a slider control. Use .form-range for consistent styling across browsers.

<label for="range" class="form-label">Range slider</label>
<input type="range" class="form-range" id="range">

<!-- With min, max, step -->
<input type="range" class="form-range" min="0" max="100" step="5">

Displaying the Current Value

Use the <output> element with JavaScript to show the current range value in real-time:

<label for="volumeRange" class="form-label">
  Volume: <output id="volumeValue">50</output>
</label>
<input type="range" class="form-range" id="volumeRange"
       min="0" max="100" value="50"
       = this.value">

The oninput event fires as the slider moves, providing immediate feedback. Place the <output> element in the label or nearby for clear association. For more complex scenarios, use a separate event listener instead of inline handlers.

Input Groups

Use input groups to visually attach related elements to form controls. Common patterns include currency symbols, units of measurement, or action buttons alongside inputs.

Basic

<div class="input-group mb-3">
  <span class="input-group-text">@</span>
  <input type="text" class="form-control" placeholder="Username">
</div>

<div class="input-group mb-3">
  <input type="text" class="form-control" placeholder="Email">
  <span class="input-group-text">@example.com</span>
</div>

<div class="input-group mb-3">
  <span class="input-group-text">$</span>
  <input type="text" class="form-control" placeholder="Amount">
  <span class="input-group-text">.00</span>
</div>

With Buttons

<div class="input-group mb-3">
  <input type="text" class="form-control" placeholder="Search...">
  <button class="btn btn-outline-secondary" type="button">Search</button>
</div>

<div class="input-group mb-3">
  <button class="btn btn-outline-secondary dropdown-toggle" type="button" data-bs-toggle="dropdown">
    Dropdown
  </button>
  <ul class="dropdown-menu">
    <li><a class="dropdown-item" href="#">Action</a></li>
  </ul>
  <input type="text" class="form-control">
</div>

Sizing

<div class="input-group input-group-sm">...</div>
<div class="input-group">...</div>
<div class="input-group input-group-lg">...</div>

Wrapping Behavior

Input groups wrap by default via flex-wrap: wrap. To keep all elements on a single line regardless of content width, add .flex-nowrap:

<div class="input-group flex-nowrap">
  <span class="input-group-text">@</span>
  <input type="text" class="form-control" placeholder="Username">
</div>

Border Radius Limitations

Hidden elements (using .d-none or display: none) in the first or last position break border-radius styling on adjacent elements. This is a known Bootstrap limitation. Workaround: move hidden elements outside the input group or use visibility utilities instead when the element needs to remain in the DOM.

Segmented Dropdown Buttons

Use .dropdown-toggle-split for split button dropdowns within input groups. This creates a separate dropdown trigger alongside a main action button:

<div class="input-group">
  <button type="button" class="btn btn-outline-secondary">Action</button>
  <button type="button" class="btn btn-outline-secondary dropdown-toggle dropdown-toggle-split"
          data-bs-toggle="dropdown" aria-expanded="false">
    <span class="visually-hidden">Toggle Dropdown</span>
  </button>
  <ul class="dropdown-menu dropdown-menu-end">
    <li><a class="dropdown-item" href="#">Option 1</a></li>
    <li><a class="dropdown-item" href="#">Option 2</a></li>
  </ul>
  <input type="text" class="form-control" placeholder="Enter value">
</div>

Floating Labels

Use floating labels for a cleaner, more compact form design where labels animate into the input on focus. They work best in simple forms like login or signup. Avoid them when you need help text or complex validation messages alongside inputs.

<div class="form-floating mb-3">
  <input type="email" class="form-control" id="floatingEmail" placeholder="name@example.com">
  <label for="floatingEmail">Email address</label>
</div>

<div class="form-floating mb-3">
  <input type="password" class="form-control" id="floatingPassword" placeholder="Password">
  <label for="floatingPassword">Password</label>
</div>

<div class="form-floating">
  <textarea class="form-control" placeholder="Leave a comment" id="floatingTextarea"></textarea>
  <label for="floatingTextarea">Comments</label>
</div>

Input Groups with Floating Labels and Validation

When combining floating labels with input groups and validation, special structure is required. Place .form-floating inside .input-group, add .has-validation to the input group, and place validation feedback outside .form-floating but inside .input-group:

<div class="input-group has-validation">
  <span class="input-group-text">@</span>
  <div class="form-floating is-invalid">
    <input type="text" class="form-control is-invalid" id="floatingUsername"
           placeholder="Username" required>
    <label for="floatingUsername">Username</label>
  </div>
  <div class="invalid-feedback">Please choose a username.</div>
</div>

The .has-validation class ensures proper border-radius styling when validation feedback is present. Without it, the input group's visual appearance may break with validation states.

Form Layout

Choose your layout based on form complexity and available space.

Vertical (Default)

Use vertical layout for most forms—it's the simplest and works well on mobile. Labels stack above inputs for easy scanning.

<form>
  <div class="mb-3">
    <label for="email" class="form-label">Email</label>
    <input type="email" class="form-control" id="email">
  </div>
  <button type="submit" class="btn btn-primary">Submit</button>
</form>

Horizontal

Use horizontal layout when you have ample width and want a more compact appearance. Best for settings pages or admin panels with many short fields.

<form>
  <div class="row mb-3">
    <label for="email" class="col-sm-2 col-form-label">Email</label>
    <div class="col-sm-10">
      <input type="email" class="form-control" id="email">
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="row">
    <div class="col-sm-10 offset-sm-2">
      <button type="submit" class="btn btn-primary">Submit</button>
    </div>
  </div>
</form>

Inline

<form class="row row-cols-lg-auto g-3 align-items-center">
  <div class="col-12">
    <input type="text" class="form-control" placeholder="Username">
  </div>
  <div class="col-12">
    <select class="form-select">
      <option selected>Choose...</option>
    </select>
  </div>
  <div class="col-12">
    <button type="submit" class="btn btn-primary">Submit</button>
  </div>
</form>

Grid Layout

<form>
  <div class="row g-3">
    <div class="col-md-6">
      <label for="firstName" class="form-label">First name</label>
      <input type="text" class="form-control" id="firstName">
    </div>
    <div class="col-md-6">
      <label for="lastName" class="form-label">Last name</label>
      <input type="text" class="form-control" id="lastName">
    </div>
    <div class="col-12">
      <label for="address" class="form-label">Address</label>
      <input type="text" class="form-control" id="address">
    </div>
    <div class="col-md-6">
      <label for="city" class="form-label">City</label>
      <input type="text" class="form-control" id="city">
    </div>
    <div class="col-md-4">
      <label for="state" class="form-label">State</label>
      <select id="state" class="form-select">
        <option selected>Choose...</option>
      </select>
    </div>
    <div class="col-md-2">
      <label for="zip" class="form-label">Zip</label>
      <input type="text" class="form-control" id="zip">
    </div>
    <div class="col-12">
      <button type="submit" class="btn btn-primary">Submit</button>
    </div>
  </div>
</form>

Accessibility Essentials

Forms require proper accessibility attributes for screen reader support and WCAG compliance.

Labels

Always associate labels with inputs using for and id attributes:

<label for="email" class="form-label">Email address</label>
<input type="email" class="form-control" id="email">

For visually hidden labels, use .visually-hidden:

<label for="search" class="visually-hidden">Search</label>
<input type="search" class="form-control" id="search" placeholder="Search...">

Help Text

Connect help text to inputs with aria-describedby:

<input type="password" class="form-control" id="password" aria-describedby="passwordHelp">
<div id="passwordHelp" class="form-text">Must be 8+ characters.</div>

Validation States

Mark invalid fields for assistive technology:

<input type="email" class="form-control is-invalid" aria-invalid="true" aria-describedby="emailError">
<div id="emailError" class="invalid-feedback">Please enter a valid email.</div>

Required Fields

<input type="text" class="form-control" required aria-required="true">

Validation

Browser Default

<form class="row g-3 needs-validation" novalidate>
  <div class="col-md-6">
    <label for="validationCustom01" class="form-label">First name</label>
    <input type="text" class="form-control" id="validationCustom01" required>
    <div class="valid-feedback">Looks good!</div>
    <div class="invalid-feedback">Please provide a first name.</div>
  </div>
  <div class="col-12">
    <button class="btn btn-primary" type="submit">Submit form</button>
  </div>
</form>

<script>
// JavaScript for validation
(function () {
  'use strict'
  var forms = document.querySelectorAll('.needs-validation')
  Array.prototype.slice.call(forms).forEach(function (form) {
    form.addEventListener('submit', function (event) {
      if (!form.checkValidity()) {
        event.preventDefault()
        event.stopPropagation()
      }
      form.classList.add('was-validated')
    }, false)
  })
})()
</script>

Validation States

<!-- Valid -->
<input type="text" class="form-control is-valid">
<div class="valid-feedback">Looks good!</div>

<!-- Invalid -->
<input type="text" class="form-control is-invalid">
<div class="invalid-feedback">Please provide a valid value.</div>

Validation Tooltips

Use .valid-tooltip and .invalid-tooltip as alternatives to feedback messages when you want positioned tooltip-style validation. Tooltips appear as floating messages positioned absolutely, requiring the parent element to have position: relative:

<div class="col-md-4 position-relative">
  <label for="city" class="form-label">City</label>
  <input type="text" class="form-control is-invalid" id="city" required>
  <div class="valid-tooltip">Looks good!</div>
  <div class="invalid-tooltip">Please provide a valid city.</div>
</div>

Tooltips are useful when feedback messages would disrupt form layout or when you want a more prominent visual indicator. Use them consistently within a form—avoid mixing tooltips and feedback messages.

Common Mistakes

See references/validation-approaches.md for validation method comparison and references/accessibility-checklist.md for complete accessibility requirements.

Additional Resources

Reference Files

• references/form-reference.md - Complete form class reference
• references/validation-approaches.md - Browser vs custom vs server-side validation comparison
• references/accessibility-checklist.md - Required attributes and testing procedures

Example Files

• examples/validation-form.html - Form validation patterns
• examples/floating-labels-form.html - Signup and login forms with floating labels
• examples/horizontal-form.html - Horizontal layouts, sizing, radios, readonly display
• examples/inline-search-form.html - Navbar search, filters, toolbars, newsletter forms
• examples/toggle-buttons.html - Checkbox and radio toggle buttons, outlined styles
• examples/accessibility-patterns.html - Accessible forms with ARIA attributes

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