Re: [WSG] Minimal forms or marking up a search field

[Oliver Boermans]

On 31 January 2010 13:45, Thierry Koblentz <thierry.koble...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> You do not need <fieldset> nor a <legend> as they are intended for
>> grouping form fields on more complex forms.
>
> I agree.
> I'd just use a DIV to wrap these form controls.

Thanks guys, I’m glad I asked this question. I was carrying around the
idea that the required element around any inputs inside a form element
was a fieldset. Seems I was wrong, any block element will satisfy the
spec.

So presuming we do away with the legend:
<div id="searchform">
       <label for="search">Keyword/s</label>
       <input type="text" id="search" name="search" />
       <input type="submit" value="Search" />
</div>

…and assuming there are no other 'search' fields in the page we need
to distinguish from. I’d like to test some further assumptions:

- Some people don’t know how to submit the query without a 'Search'
(or 'Go') button?
<div id="searchform">
       <label for="search">Keyword/s</label>
       <input type="text" id="search" name="search" />
</div>
Apple seems to believe the the submit input is unnecessary
<http://www.apple.com>

- Now that the legend is gone I should use the label to describe the
purpose of the text field rather than what one should enter in it?
Everyone knows you put keywords in a search field, right?
<div id="searchform">
       <label for="search">Search</label>
       <input type="text" id="search" name="search" />
</div>

- Is including the keywords hint in the title attribute useful to anyone?
<div id="searchform">
       <label for="search">Search</label>
       <input type="text" id="search" name="search" title="Keyword/s" />
</div>

- Does everyone agree this is taking simplicity too far?
<div id="searchform">
       <input type="text" id="search" name="search" title="Search" />
</div>

Thanks for indulging my hairsplitting.

Ollie
--
@ollicle


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