HTML Form Target Attribute

The target attribute in HTML forms is an essential attribute used to specify where to display the response received after submitting the form. Understanding how to leverage the target attribute enhances your web forms and improves user experience. In this article, we will explore the target attribute, its various values, and how to implement it effectively in HTML forms.

What is the target Attribute?

The target attribute can be defined as a property that determines where the result of a form submission should be displayed. This attribute is particularly useful when you want to control if the response should open in a new window, the same tab, or a specific frame in a markup structure.

The target Attribute Values

The target attribute can take several values. Each value defines a unique behavior when the form is submitted. Let’s break down these values:

How to Use the target Attribute with HTML Forms

Using the target attribute in an HTML form is straightforward. You simply add the target attribute inside the <form> tag, assigning it one of the values explained above. Here’s how you can implement it:

<form action="submit.php" method="post" target="_blank">
    <label for="name">Name:</label>
    <input type="text" id="name" name="name">
    <input type="submit" value="Submit">
</form>

In the example above, when the user submits the form, the response from “submit.php” will open in a new tab due to the target=”_blank” instruction.

Example of a Form with target Attribute

Let’s look at a practical example that illustrates the use of the target attribute in various scenarios:

<form action="process_form.php" method="post" target="_self">
    <label for="email">Email:</label>
    <input type="email" id="email" name="email" required>
    
    <label for="message">Message:</label>
    <textarea id="message" name="message" required></textarea>
    
    <input type="submit" value="Send">
</form>

<form action="another_form.php" method="post" target="_blank">
    <label for="username">Username:</label>
    <input type="text" id="username" name="username" required>
    
    <input type="submit" value="Submit">
</form>

The first form directs the response to open in the same window, whereas the second form opens its response in a new tab, enhancing the user experience by allowing them to keep both forms visible.

Browser Support for the target Attribute

The target attribute for forms is well-supported across all modern browsers. This includes browsers like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, and Microsoft Edge. However, always keep in mind that user settings, browser specifications, and privacy controls may affect how the target attribute behaves.

FAQ

1. What happens if I don’t specify the target attribute?

If the target attribute is not specified, the form will submit its response to the same page by default, using _self as the value.

2. Can I use the target attribute with other HTML elements?

Yes, the target attribute is not exclusive to forms; it can be used with <a> (anchor) tags and <area> tags to control where links open.

3. What is the best practice for using the target attribute?

It’s recommended to use _blank for forms that require the user to keep interacting with the original page (like user feedback forms), while _self is best for forms that should replace the current content.

4. Is it safe to use target=”_blank”?

While target=”_blank” is widely used, it can pose security risks, such as reverse tabnabbing. It’s best practice to add rel=”noopener noreferrer” to mitigate these risks when using _blank.

5. Can frames still be used with the target attribute?

Though frames were commonly used in older web designs, modern web design favors responsive layouts, which often do not employ frames. Nevertheless, if frames are used, you can specify a target frame name in the target attribute.