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Forms

Examples and usage guidelines for form control styles, layout options, and custom components for creating a wide variety of forms with the help of Bootstrap Forms.

Overview

Bootstrap’s form controls expand on our Rebooted form styles with classes. Use these classes to opt into their customized displays for a more consistent rendering across browsers and devices.

Be sure to use an appropriate type attribute on all inputs (e.g., email for email address or number for numerical information) to take advantage of newer input controls like email verification, number selection, and more.

For more information, see Bootstrap Forms

Here's a quick example to demonstrate Bootstrap's form styles. Keep reading for documentation on required classes, form layout, and more.

We'll never share your email with anyone else. 
<form>
  <div class="form-group">
    <label for="exampleInputEmail1">Email address</label>
    <input type="email" class="form-control" id="exampleInputEmail1" aria-describedby="emailHelp" placeholder="Enter email">
    <small id="emailHelp" class="form-text text-muted">We'll never share your email with anyone else.</small>
  </div>
  <div class="form-group">
    <label for="exampleInputPassword1">Password</label>
    <input type="password" class="form-control" id="exampleInputPassword1" placeholder="Password">
  </div>
  <div class="form-group form-check">
    <input type="checkbox" class="form-check-input" id="exampleCheck1">
    <label class="form-check-label" for="exampleCheck1">Check me out</label>
  </div>
  <button type="submit" class="btn btn-primary">Submit</button>
</form>

Form controls

Textual form controls—like <input>s, <select>s, and <textarea>s—are styled with the .form-control class. Included are styles for general appearance, focus state, sizing, and more.

Be sure to explore our custom form to further style <select>s.

<form>
  <div class="form-group">
    <label for="exampleFormControlInput1">Email address</label>
    <input type="email" class="form-control" id="exampleFormControlInput1" placeholder="[email protected]">
  </div>
  <div class="form-group">
    <label for="exampleFormControlSelect1">Example select</label>
    <select class="form-control" id="exampleFormControlSelect1">
      <option>1</option>
      <option>2</option>
      <option>3</option>
      <option>4</option>
      <option>5</option>
    </select>
  </div>
  <div class="form-group">
    <label for="exampleFormControlSelect2">Example multiple select</label>
    <select multiple="" class="form-control" id="exampleFormControlSelect2">
      <option>1</option>
      <option>2</option>
      <option>3</option>
      <option>4</option>
      <option>5</option>
    </select>
  </div>
  <div class="form-group">
    <label for="exampleFormControlTextarea1">Example textarea</label>
    <textarea class="form-control" id="exampleFormControlTextarea1" rows="3"></textarea>
  </div>
</form>

For file inputs, swap the .form-control for .form-control-file.

<form>
  <div class="form-group">
    <label for="exampleFormControlFile1">Example file input</label>
    <input type="file" class="form-control-file" id="exampleFormControlFile1">
  </div>
</form>

File attachments

File attachments customized to modern button look

<form>
    <!-- File Attachment Button -->
    <label class="btn btn-sm btn-primary transition-3d-hover file-attachment-btn" for="fileAttachmentBtn">
        Choose file to upload
        <input id="fileAttachmentBtn" name="file-attachment" type="file" class="file-attachment-btn__label">
    </label>
    <!-- End File Attachment Button -->
</form>

or this one

<form>
    <!-- File Attachment Input -->
    <label class="file-attachment-input" for="fileAttachmentInput">
        Browse your device and upload documents
        <small class="d-block text-muted">Maximum file size 10MB</small>
        <input id="fileAttachmentInput" name="file-attachment" type="file" class="file-attachment-input__label">
    </label>
    <!-- End File Attachment Input -->
</form>

Sizing

Set heights using classes like .form-control-lg and .form-control-sm.

<input class="form-control form-control-lg" type="text" placeholder=".form-control-lg">
<input class="form-control" type="text" placeholder="Default input">
<input class="form-control form-control-sm" type="text" placeholder=".form-control-sm">
<input class="form-control form-control-xs" type="text" placeholder=".form-control-xs">
<select class="form-control form-control-lg">
    <option>Large select</option>
</select>
<select class="form-control">
    <option>Default select</option>
</select>
<select class="form-control form-control-sm">
    <option>Small select</option>
</select>
<select class="form-control form-control-xs">
    <option>Extra small select</option>
</select>

Readonly

Add the readonly boolean attribute on an input to prevent modification of the input’s value. Read-only inputs appear lighter (just like disabled inputs), but retain the standard cursor.

<input class="form-control" type="text" placeholder="Readonly input here…" readonly="">

Readonly plain text

If you want to have <input readonly> elements in your form styled as plain text, use the .form-control-plaintext class to remove the default form field styling and preserve the correct margin and padding.

<form>
  <div class="form-group row">
    <label for="staticEmail" class="col-sm-2 col-form-label">Email</label>
    <div class="col-sm-10">
      <input type="text" readonly="" class="form-control-plaintext" id="staticEmail" value="[email protected]">
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="form-group row">
    <label for="inputPassword" class="col-sm-2 col-form-label">Password</label>
    <div class="col-sm-10">
      <input type="password" class="form-control" id="inputPassword" placeholder="Password">
    </div>
  </div>
</form>
<form class="form-inline">
  <div class="form-group mb-2">
    <label for="staticEmail2" class="sr-only">Email</label>
    <input type="text" readonly="" class="form-control-plaintext" id="staticEmail2" value="[email protected]">
  </div>
  <div class="form-group mx-sm-3 mb-2">
    <label for="inputPassword2" class="sr-only">Password</label>
    <input type="password" class="form-control" id="inputPassword2" placeholder="Password">
  </div>
  <button type="submit" class="btn btn-primary mb-2">Confirm identity</button>
</form>

Readonly plain text

If you want to have <input readonly> elements in your form styled as plain text, use the .form-control-plaintext class to remove the default form field styling and preserve the correct margin and padding.

<form>
  <div class="form-group row">
    <label for="staticEmail" class="col-sm-2 col-form-label">Email</label>
    <div class="col-sm-10">
      <input type="text" readonly="" class="form-control-plaintext" id="staticEmail" value="[email protected]">
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="form-group row">
    <label for="inputPassword" class="col-sm-2 col-form-label">Password</label>
    <div class="col-sm-10">
      <input type="password" class="form-control" id="inputPassword" placeholder="Password">
    </div>
  </div>
</form>

Checkbox and radios

Default checkboxes and radios are improved upon with the help of .form-check, a single class for both input types that improves the layout and behavior of their HTML elements. Checkboxes are for selecting one or several options in a list, while radios are for selecting one option from many.

Disabled checkboxes and radios are supported, but to provide a not-allowed cursor on hover of the parent <label>, you’ll need to add the disabled attribute to the .form-check-input. The disabled attribute will apply a lighter color to help indicate the input’s state.

Checkboxes and radios use are built to support HTML-based form validation and provide concise, accessible labels. As such, our <input>s and <label>s are sibling elements as opposed to an <input> within a <label>. This is slightly more verbose as you must specify id and for attributes to relate the <input> and <label>.

<form>
  <div class="form-group row">
    <label for="staticEmail" class="col-sm-2 col-form-label">Email</label>
    <div class="col-sm-10">
      <input type="text" readonly="" class="form-control-plaintext" id="staticEmail" value="[email protected]">
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="form-group row">
    <label for="inputPassword" class="col-sm-2 col-form-label">Password</label>
    <div class="col-sm-10">
      <input type="password" class="form-control" id="inputPassword" placeholder="Password">
    </div>
  </div>
</form>

Default (stacked)

By default, any number of checkboxes and radios that are immediate sibling will be vertically stacked and appropriately spaced with .form-check.

<div class="form-check">
  <input class="form-check-input" type="checkbox" value="" id="defaultCheck1">
  <label class="form-check-label" for="defaultCheck1">
    Default checkbox
  </label>
</div>
<div class="form-check">
  <input class="form-check-input" type="checkbox" value="" id="defaultCheck2" disabled="">
  <label class="form-check-label" for="defaultCheck2">
    Disabled checkbox
  </label>
</div>
<div class="form-check">
  <input class="form-check-input" type="radio" name="exampleRadios" id="exampleRadios1" value="option1" checked="">
  <label class="form-check-label" for="exampleRadios1">
    Default radio
  </label>
</div>
<div class="form-check">
  <input class="form-check-input" type="radio" name="exampleRadios" id="exampleRadios2" value="option2">
  <label class="form-check-label" for="exampleRadios2">
    Second default radio
  </label>
</div>
<div class="form-check disabled">
  <input class="form-check-input" type="radio" name="exampleRadios" id="exampleRadios3" value="option3" disabled="">
  <label class="form-check-label" for="exampleRadios3">
    Disabled radio
  </label>
</div>

Inline

Group checkboxes or radios on the same horizontal row by adding .form-check-inline to any .form-check.

<div class="form-check form-check-inline">
  <input class="form-check-input" type="checkbox" id="inlineCheckbox1" value="option1">
  <label class="form-check-label" for="inlineCheckbox1">1</label>
</div>
<div class="form-check form-check-inline">
  <input class="form-check-input" type="checkbox" id="inlineCheckbox2" value="option2">
  <label class="form-check-label" for="inlineCheckbox2">2</label>
</div>
<div class="form-check form-check-inline">
  <input class="form-check-input" type="checkbox" id="inlineCheckbox3" value="option3" disabled="">
  <label class="form-check-label" for="inlineCheckbox3">3 (disabled)</label>
</div>
<div class="form-check form-check-inline">
  <input class="form-check-input" type="radio" name="inlineRadioOptions" id="inlineRadio1" value="option1">
  <label class="form-check-label" for="inlineRadio1">1</label>
</div>
<div class="form-check form-check-inline">
  <input class="form-check-input" type="radio" name="inlineRadioOptions" id="inlineRadio2" value="option2">
  <label class="form-check-label" for="inlineRadio2">2</label>
</div>
<div class="form-check form-check-inline">
  <input class="form-check-input" type="radio" name="inlineRadioOptions" id="inlineRadio3" value="option3" disabled="">
  <label class="form-check-label" for="inlineRadio3">3 (disabled)</label>
</div>

Without labels

Add .position-static to inputs within .form-check that don’t have any label text. Remember to still provide some form of label for assistive technologies (for instance, using aria-label).

<div class="form-check">
  <input class="form-check-input position-static" type="checkbox" id="blankCheckbox" value="option1" aria-label="...">
</div>
<div class="form-check">
  <input class="form-check-input position-static" type="radio" name="blankRadio" id="blankRadio1" value="option1" aria-label="...">
</div>

Custom checkbox

<div class="custom-control custom-checkbox">
    <input type="checkbox" class="custom-control-input" id="stylishCheckbox">
    <label class="custom-control-label" for="stylishCheckbox">
        Stylish checkbox
    </label>
</div>
<div class="custom-control custom-checkbox">
    <input type="checkbox" class="custom-control-input" id="disabledStylishCheckbox" disabled="">
    <label class="custom-control-label" for="disabledStylishCheckbox">
        Disabled stylish checkbox
    </label>
</div>

Layout

Since Bootstrap applies display: block and width: 100% to almost all our form controls, forms will by default stack vertically. Additional classes can be used to vary this layout on a per-form basis.

Form groups

The .form-group class is the easiest way to add some structure to forms. It provides a flexible class that encourages proper grouping of labels, controls, optional help text, and form validation messaging. By default it only applies margin-bottom, but it picks up additional styles in .form-inline as needed. Use it with <fieldset>s, <div>s, or nearly any other element.

<form>
  <div class="form-group">
    <label for="formGroupExampleInput">Example label</label>
    <input type="text" class="form-control" id="formGroupExampleInput" placeholder="Example input">
  </div>
  <div class="form-group">
    <label for="formGroupExampleInput2">Another label</label>
    <input type="text" class="form-control" id="formGroupExampleInput2" placeholder="Another input">
  </div>
</form>

Form grid

More complex forms can be built using our grid classes. Use these for form layouts that require multiple columns, varied widths, and additional alignment options.

<form>
  <div class="row">
    <div class="col">
      <input type="text" class="form-control" placeholder="First name">
    </div>
    <div class="col">
      <input type="text" class="form-control" placeholder="Last name">
    </div>
  </div>
</form>

Inline forms

Use the .form-inline class to display a series of labels, form controls, and buttons on a single horizontal row. Form controls within inline forms vary slightly from their default states.

  • Controls are display: flex, collapsing any HTML white space and allowing you to provide alignment control with spacing and flexbox utilities.
  • Controls and input groups receive width: auto to override the Bootstrap default width: 100%.
  • Controls only appear inline in viewports that are at least 576px wide to account for narrow viewports on mobile devices.

You may need to manually address the width and alignment of individual form controls with spacing utilities (as shown below). Lastly, be sure to always include a <label> with each form control, even if you need to hide it from non-screenreader visitors with .sr-only.

@
<form class="form-inline">
  <label class="sr-only" for="inlineFormInputName2">Name</label>
  <input type="text" class="form-control mb-2 mr-sm-2" id="inlineFormInputName2" placeholder="Jane Doe">

  <label class="sr-only" for="inlineFormInputGroupUsername2">Username</label>
  <div class="input-group mb-2 mr-sm-2">
    <div class="input-group-prepend">
      <div class="input-group-text">@</div>
    </div>
    <input type="text" class="form-control" id="inlineFormInputGroupUsername2" placeholder="Username">
  </div>

  <div class="form-check mb-2 mr-sm-2">
    <input class="form-check-input" type="checkbox" id="inlineFormCheck">
    <label class="form-check-label" for="inlineFormCheck">
      Remember me
    </label>
  </div>

  <button type="submit" class="btn btn-primary mb-2">Submit</button>
</form>

Custom form controls and selects are also supported.

<form class="form-inline">
  <label class="my-1 mr-2" for="inlineFormCustomSelectPref">Preference</label>
  <select class="custom-select my-1 mr-sm-2" id="inlineFormCustomSelectPref">
    <option selected="">Choose...</option>
    <option value="1">One</option>
    <option value="2">Two</option>
    <option value="3">Three</option>
  </select>

  <div class="custom-control custom-checkbox my-1 mr-sm-2">
    <input type="checkbox" class="custom-control-input" id="customControlInline">
    <label class="custom-control-label" for="customControlInline">Remember my preference</label>
  </div>

  <button type="submit" class="btn btn-primary my-1">Submit</button>
</form>

Switches

A switch has the markup of a custom checkbox but uses the .custom-switch class to render a toggle switch. Switches also support the disabled attribute.

<div class="custom-control custom-switch">
  <input type="checkbox" class="custom-control-input" id="customSwitch1">
  <label class="custom-control-label" for="customSwitch1">Toggle this switch element</label>
</div>
<div class="custom-control custom-switch">
  <input type="checkbox" class="custom-control-input" disabled="" id="customSwitch2">
  <label class="custom-control-label" for="customSwitch2">Disabled switch element</label>
</div>

Help text

Block-level help text in forms can be created using .form-text (previously known as .help-block in v3). Inline help text can be flexibly implemented using any inline HTML element and utility classes like .text-muted.

Help text below inputs can be styled with .form-text. This class includes display: block and adds some top margin for easy spacing from the inputs above.

Your password must be 8-20 characters long, contain letters and numbers, and must not contain spaces, special characters, or emoji. 
<label for="inputPassword5">Password</label>
<input type="password" id="inputPassword5" class="form-control" aria-describedby="passwordHelpBlock">
<small id="passwordHelpBlock" class="form-text text-muted">
    Your password must be 8-20 characters long, contain letters and numbers, and must not contain spaces, special characters, or emoji.
</small>

Inline text can use any typical inline HTML element (be it a <small>, <span>, or something else) with nothing more than a utility class.

Must be 8-20 characters long. 
<form class="form-inline">
    <div class="form-group">
        <label for="inputPassword6">Password</label>
        <input type="password" id="inputPassword6" class="form-control mx-sm-3" aria-describedby="passwordHelpInline">
        <small id="passwordHelpInline" class="text-muted">
            Must be 8-20 characters long.
        </small>
    </div>
</form>

Custom forms

For even more customization and cross browser consistency, use our completely custom form elements to replace the browser defaults. They’re built on top of semantic and accessible markup, so they’re solid replacements for any default form control.

Checkboxes and radios

Each checkbox and radio is wrapped in a <div> with a sibling <span> to create our custom control and a <label> for the accompanying text. Structurally, this is the same approach as our default .form-check.

We use the sibling selector (~) for all our <input> states—like :checked—to properly style our custom form indicator. When combined with the .custom-control-label class, we can also style the text for each item based on the <input>’s state.

We hide the default <input> with opacity and use the .custom-control-label to build a new custom form indicator in its place with ::before and ::after. Unfortunately we can’t build a custom one from just the <input> because CSS’s content doesn’t work on that element.

In the checked states, we use base64 embedded SVG icons from Open Iconic. This provides us the best control for styling and positioning across browsers and devices.

Checkboxes

<div class="custom-control custom-checkbox">
    <input type="checkbox" class="custom-control-input" id="customCheck1">
    <label class="custom-control-label" for="customCheck1">Check this custom checkbox</label>
</div>

Custom checkboxes can also utilize the :indeterminate pseudo class when manually set via JavaScript (there is no available HTML attribute for specifying it).

If you’re using jQuery, something like this should suffice:

$('.your-checkbox').prop('indeterminate', true)

Radios

<div class="custom-control custom-radio">
    <input type="radio" id="customRadio1" name="customRadio" class="custom-control-input">
    <label class="custom-control-label" for="customRadio1">Toggle this custom radio</label>
</div>
<div class="custom-control custom-radio">
    <input type="radio" id="customRadio2" name="customRadio" class="custom-control-input">
    <label class="custom-control-label" for="customRadio2">Or toggle this other custom radio</label>
</div>

Inline

<div class="custom-control custom-radio custom-control-inline">
    <input type="radio" id="customRadioInline1" name="customRadioInline1" class="custom-control-input">
    <label class="custom-control-label" for="customRadioInline1">Toggle this custom radio</label>
</div>
<div class="custom-control custom-radio custom-control-inline">
    <input type="radio" id="customRadioInline2" name="customRadioInline1" class="custom-control-input">
    <label class="custom-control-label" for="customRadioInline2">Or toggle this other custom radio</label>
</div>

Disabled

Custom checkboxes and radios can also be disabled. Add the disabled boolean attribute to the <input> and the custom indicator and label description will be automatically styled.

<div class="custom-control custom-checkbox">
    <input type="checkbox" class="custom-control-input" id="customCheckDisabled" disabled="">
    <label class="custom-control-label" for="customCheckDisabled">Check this custom checkbox</label>
</div>
<div class="custom-control custom-radio">
    <input type="radio" id="customRadioDisabled" name="radioDisabled" class="custom-control-input" disabled="">
    <label class="custom-control-label" for="customRadioDisabled">Toggle this custom radio</label>
</div>

Select menu

Custom <select> menus need only a custom class, .custom-select to trigger the custom styles.

<select class="custom-select">
    <option selected="">Open this select menu</option>
    <option value="1">One</option>
    <option value="2">Two</option>
    <option value="3">Three</option>
</select>

You may also choose from small and large custom selects to match our similarly sized text inputs.

<select class="custom-select custom-select-lg mb-3">
  <option selected="">Open this select menu</option>
  <option value="1">One</option>
  <option value="2">Two</option>
  <option value="3">Three</option>
</select>
<select class="custom-select custom-select-sm">
  <option selected="">Open this select menu</option>
  <option value="1">One</option>
  <option value="2">Two</option>
  <option value="3">Three</option>
</select>

The multiple attribute is also supported:

<select class="custom-select" multiple="">
  <option selected="">Open this select menu</option>
  <option value="1">One</option>
  <option value="2">Two</option>
  <option value="3">Three</option>
</select>

As is the size attribute:

<select class="custom-select" size="3">
    <option selected="">Open this select menu</option>
    <option value="1">One</option>
    <option value="2">Two</option>
    <option value="3">Three</option>
</select>

File browser

The file input is the most gnarly of the bunch and requires additional JavaScript if you’d like to hook them up with functional Choose file… and selected file name text.

<div class="custom-file">
    <input type="file" class="custom-file-input" id="customFile">
    <label class="custom-file-label" for="customFile">Choose file</label>
</div>

Input group

@
@example.com
https://example.com/users/
$
.00
With textarea 
<div class="input-group mb-3">
    <div class="input-group-prepend">
        <span class="input-group-text" id="basic-addon1">@</span>
    </div>
    <input type="text" class="form-control" placeholder="Username" aria-label="Username" aria-describedby="basic-addon1">
</div>
<div class="input-group mb-3">
    <input type="text" class="form-control" placeholder="Recipient's username" aria-label="Recipient's username" aria-describedby="basic-addon2">
    <div class="input-group-append">
        <span class="input-group-text" id="basic-addon2">@example.com</span>
    </div>
</div>
<label for="basic-url">Your vanity URL</label>
<div class="input-group mb-3">
    <div class="input-group-prepend">
        <span class="input-group-text" id="basic-addon3">https://example.com/users/</span>
    </div>
    <input type="text" class="form-control" id="basic-url" aria-describedby="basic-addon3">
</div>
<div class="input-group mb-3">
    <div class="input-group-prepend">
        <span class="input-group-text">$</span>
    </div>
    <input type="text" class="form-control" aria-label="Amount (to the nearest dollar)">
    <div class="input-group-append">
        <span class="input-group-text">.00</span>
    </div>
</div>
<div class="input-group mb-3">
    <div class="input-group-prepend">
        <span class="input-group-text">With textarea</span>
    </div>
    <textarea class="form-control" aria-label="With textarea"></textarea>
</div>
<div class="js-focus-state mb-3">
    <div class="input-group">
        <div class="input-group-prepend">
            <span class="input-group-text">
                <span class="fas fa-user"></span>
            </span>
        </div>
        <input type="text" class="form-control" placeholder="Username" aria-label="Username">
    </div>
</div>
<div class="js-focus-state mb-3">
    <div class="input-group">
        <input type="text" class="form-control" placeholder="Username" aria-label="Username">
        <div class="input-group-append">
            <span class="input-group-text">
                <span class="fas fa-user"></span>
            </span>
        </div>
    </div>
</div>
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