HTML action attribute

Last update on February 01 2025 13:30:54 (UTC/GMT +8 hours)

action Attribute

The action attribute specifies where to send form data when a form is submitted. It defines the URL of the server-side script (e.g., PHP, Node.js, Python) that processes the form data.

Supported Element

<form>

Syntax

<form action="URL" >...</form>

Values

URL: The address where the form data is sent.

Can be a relative path (e.g., "/submit-form") or absolute URL (e.g., "https://api.example.com/submit").
If omitted, the form submits to the current page URL (default behavior).

Key Notes

1. HTML5 Support: Valid in HTML5 and all HTML versions.

2. Form Submission Methods:>

Use the method attribute to specify GET (data in URL) or POST (data in request body).
Example: <form action="/login" method="POST">.

3. Override with formaction: Individual submit buttons can override the form’s action using the formaction attribute.

<button type="submit">Save Draft</button>
<button type="submit" formaction="/publish">Publish</button>

Example (Modern HTML5)

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="UTF-8">
  <title>Login Form</title>
</head>
<body>
  <form action="/login" method="POST">
    <label for="email">Email:</label>
    <input type="email" id="email" name="email" required><br>

    <label for="password">Password:</label>
    <input type="password" id="password" name="password" required><br>

    <button type="submit">Sign In</button>
  </form>
</body>
</html>

Result

View this example in a separate browser window

Example of HTML action attribute with form.

Best Practices

Use method="POST" for sensitive data (passwords, payments).
Always validate form data on the server-side, even with client-side checks.
For empty action, ensure the current page handles form resubmission correctly (e.g., avoid duplicate submissions).

Browser Compatibility

Supported in all browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, etc.).

Previous: HTML accesskey attribute
Next: HTML align attribute