checkbox

A checkbox is an on-screen icon by which users can indicate a selection or choice. Checkboxes are one of many ways in which users are promoted to input information directly onto a Web page.

Print Resources:

• HTML for Dummies. Ed Tittel and Steve James. IDG Books. Foster City, CA. 1995. (ISBN 1-56884-330-5)

W3E References:

radio button

A somewhat analogous data input option.

Detail:

Checkboxes are indicated in HTML by the form <FORM>...</FORM> tag. A typical checkbox contains a number of attributes:

• INPUT TYPE="checkbox" -- indicating the type of input
• NAME="text" -- providing an anchor
• VALUE="defaultvalue" -- the default value

Other attributes can include:

• SIZE="number" -- the number of text elements displayed before scrolling
• MAXLENGTH="number" -- the maximum number of characters that a value in the TEXT element can contain
• ALIGN=(TOP)(MIDDLE)(BOTTOM) -- how the graphic element is aligned on the form vis-a-vis the accompanying text