Chapter 21
JavaScript Reference

Submit Element

Name

Submit Element---a button to submit a form

Availability

Navigator 2.0, Internet Explorer 3.0; enhanced in Navigator 3.0

Synopsis

form.name
form.elements[i]
form.elements['name']

Properties

form

A read-only reference to the Form object that contains the Submit element.

name

A read-only string, set by the HTML NAME attribute, that specifies the name of the Submit element. This is also the name that can be used to reference the Submit element as a property of its form.

type

A read-only string that specifies the type of this form element. For Submit elements, it has the value "submit". Available in Navigator 3.0 and later.

value

A read-only string, set by the HTML VALUE attribute, that specifies the text to appear in the button. If no VALUE is specified, then (in Navigator) the button will be labelled "Submit Query" by default.

Methods

blur()

Removes keyboard focus from the Submit button.

click()

Simulates a click on the Submit button.

focus()

Gives keyboard focus to the Submit button.

Event Handlers

onblur()

Invoked when the Submit button loses keyboard focus.

onclick()

Invoked when the Submit button is clicked.

onfocus()

Invoked when the Submit button is given keyboard focus.

HTML Syntax

An Reset object is created with a standard HTML <INPUT> tag, with the addition of the onClick attribute:

<FORM>
    ...
  <INPUT
    TYPE="submit"   specifies that this is a Submit button
    [ VALUE="label" ] the text that is to appear within the button
    specifies the value property
    [ NAME="name" ]   a name that can later be used to refer to the button
    specifies the name property
    [ onClick="handler" ] JavaScript statements to be executed when the button is clicked
  >
    ...
</FORM>

Description

The Submit element has the same properties and methods as the Button object, but has a more specialized purpose. When a Submit button is clicked, it submits the data in the form that contains the button to the server specified by the form's ACTION attribute, and loads the resulting HTML page sent back by that server.

Usage

Form data may also be submitted by invoking the Form.submit() method. The Submit.onclick() event handler can define additional JavaScript statements to be executed when a Submit button is clicked, but this event handler cannot prevent the form from being submitted (if it fails input verification tests, for example).[1] To cancel a form submission, you must use the Form.onsubmit() event handler.

[1] This event handler can abort a submission in Navigator 3.0; see the reference entry for details.

If no VALUE attribute is specified for a Submit object, it will be labelled Submit Query. In some forms, it may make more sense to label the button Submit or Done or Send.