Submitting forms programmatically
In JavaScript programming, web developers can submit user-entered digital information in a programmatic order by applying the submit() form method to display multiple elements in the form using the form submit button. Forms in a website or webpage are a great way to collect information and data from internet users in digital format. Forms store or fill in the form as information given by internet users. In general forms, contact us forms, subscription forms, registration forms, school, university forms, online sales purchase forms, etc. all forms are stored in the server-side backend by applying the submit button method.
So, let’s get to know the method of submitting forms in a programmatic order in JavaScript programming.
JavaScript Basic Programmatic Form Submission Process.
The .submit() function or method is used in the form element to submit user-entered digital information in a programmatic order in a JavaScript webpage form. This method bypasses any event listeners associated with the form, such as the form submit event, and thus executes the form submission process directly.
Basic form submission example in JavaScript.
<form id=”sampleForm”>
<input type=”text” id=”employeename” name=”employeename” required />
<input type=”password” id=”password” name=”password” required />
<button type=”submit”>Submit Form</button>
</form>
<script>
const form = document.getElementById(‘sampleForm’);
// here we use Submit method to the form programmatically after 4 seconds
setTimeout(() => {
form.submit(); // here perform submit form method Programmatically
}, 4000);
</script>
Here in the form submit example, the webpage form will be submitted automatically after 4 seconds without user interaction.
Executing form submission with form validation in JavaScript.
When submitting a form in a programmatic order in a JavaScript webpage, it is important to note that the submit() form method does not trigger form validation, e.g., it does not test required, minimum length, or other HTML5 form validation attributes. If the user wants the form to be validated before submission, the web developer must execute the validation process in a manual order by applying the checkValidity() method.
Form submit example with validation in JavaScript.
<form id=”sampleForm”>
<input type=”text” id=”employeename” name=”employeename” required />
<input type=”password” id=”password” name=”password” required />
<button type=”submit”>Submit Form</button>
</form>
<script>
const form = document.getElementById(‘sampleForm’);
// here we use the Submit form method programmatic with form validation
function submitFormWithValidation() used for it {
if (form.checkValidity()) { // here it Check if the form is valid or not
form.submit(); // here it Submit the form if form valid or invalid
} else {
console.log(‘Form data is invalid’);
}
}
// here it Call the function to submit the form after form validation process
here setTimeout(submitFormWithValidation, 4000); // it submit form Programmatic submit after 4 seconds
</script>
Here in this example, before submitting the form data, the checkValidity() function ensures that all the required form data fields are properly filled. If the form fill is invalid, such as, the required form fields are empty, then the form data and the form are not submitted.
Submitting Form Using AJAX in JavaScript.
In JavaScript, we can submit the form data information using AJAX script without reloading the webpage, here programmers can collect the form data, and send the form data to the backend server using fetch() or XMLHttpRequest method.
Submitting Form with AJAX in JavaScript Using fetch().
<form id=”sampleForm”>
<input type=”text” id=”employeename” name=”employeename” required />
<input type=”password” id=”password” name=”password” required />
<button type=”submit”>Submit Form</button>
</form>
<script>
const form = document.getElementById(‘sampleForm’);
form.addEventListener(‘submit’, (event) => {
event.preventDefault(); //here it use to Prevent default form submission process
const formData = new FormData(form); //here it use to Get form field element data
// here we use Send form data via AJAX fetch API method
fetch(‘/submit-form’, {
method: ‘POST’,
body: formData, // here it use to Attach the form element data
})
.then(response => response.json()) // here it use to Handle the server response after form element fill
.then(data => {
console.log(‘Form data submitted successfully’, data);
})
.catch(error => {
console.error(‘Error form submitting’, error);
});
});
</script>
Here in this example, the event.preventDefault() function method is used to prevent the form from being submitted in the normal order.
The form data is collected using the FormData API method, which collects all the form data elements from the form fields.
The form data is sent to the server via the fetch() method, which executes an AJAX script request to submit the form data in an asynchronous order.
AJAX request without form element in JavaScript.
JavaScript programmers can create and submit data in a manual order without using the <form> element directly in the webpage, while collecting form data in a programmatic order.
const data = {
employeename: document.getElementById(’employeename’).value,
password: document.getElementById(‘password’).value,
};
fetch(‘/submit-form’, {
method: ‘POST’,
headers: {
‘Content-Type’: ‘application/json’,
},
body: JSON.stringify(data),
})
.then(response => response.json())
.then(data => console.log(‘Submit Success:’, data))
.catch(error => console.error(‘Submit Error:’, error));
It sends the form data to the server in JSON format using the fetch() function method in this example.
Stopping form submission based on conditions in JavaScript.
Sometimes, you may want to stop or allow form submission in a conditional order. Here programmers can test some condition before submitting the form programmatically.
Conditional form submission example in JavaScript.
<form id=”sampleForm”>
<input type=”text” id=”employeename” name=”employeename” required />
<input type=”password” id=”password” name=”password” required />
<button type=”submit”>Submit Form</button>
</form>
<script>
const form = document.getElementById(‘sampleForm’);
const submitButton = form.querySelector(‘button[type=”submit”]’);
// here it Check if form inputs element meet conditions before submit to the
submitButton.addEventListener(‘click’, (event) => {
const employeename = document.getElementById(’employeename’).value;
const password = document.getElementById(‘password’).value;
if (employeename.length < 14 || password.length < 8) {
event.preventDefault(); // here it Prevent form submission method
alert(‘enetr employee name must contain 14 characters, and password must contain at least 8 characters’);
} else {
form.submit(); //Submit form programmatically if form data and information valid
}
});
</script>
Here the form source code follows the submit button click event listener, which tests the input values in the employee name and password fields, and if both the conditions are not fulfilled, it stops the form submission process.
Using submit() method without event listeners in JavaScript.
The important thing to remember here is that using the submit() form method does not trigger the submit event listener associated with the form. This means that custom form validation or any other form logic associated with the submit event is not executed unless the programmer applies it in manual order.
If the user gets custom form validation, or needs to test the form before form submission, then the programmer should either use the checkValidity() function method or manage the form logic in a clear order in his event listener.
Summary of programmatic form submission in JavaScript programming.
- form.submit() method – The form submit method submits form data elements in a programmatic order without triggering validation or event listeners associated with the form’s submit event.
- Validation with checkValidity() method – To determine the validity of the form before form submission, programmers can test the form to see if the form fields are valid or not by using the checkValidity() function method.
- AJAX form submission – JavaScript programmers can submit forms in an asynchronous order by using the fetch() function or XMLHttpRequest method, allowing programmers to send form data online without refreshing the webpage.
- Conditional form submission – JavaScript programmers can stop the form submission method based on certain conditions by using custom logic with the event.preventDefault() function and method.
- Use of event listener – One thing to note here is that calling the form.submit() method bypasses any custom event listener present in the form’s submit event.
