Why Long Forms Need Instant Field Validation
by anthony on 02/24/11 at 9:38 pm
Everyone can make mistakes when it comes to filling out forms. The good news is that when users send their information through a form, the system will usually tell them whether the information they entered are valid inputs. The bad news is that if the form they’re filling out is really long and they make several errors, users could end up seeing a long list of errors at the end of the form that they’ll have to go back and fix one by one. If users feel that your form process is more trouble than it’s worth, they’ll abandon your form to save themselves the headache.
A faster and more efficient way to validate user input is to use instant field validation. Instant field validation is just like what it says. It validates each text field after the user enters their information. This approach is more efficient because the user gets instant feedback on whether their information is valid before the user finishes filling out the form. If the user makes an error at any time, the form will tell them so they can fix it immediately. This allows users to finish with an errorless form.
Instant field validation not only tells users what they do wrong, but it can also give them the confirmation they need to know to let them know they have successfully corrected their error. This gives users more security and confidence to progress through the form without fear or worry. This is useful for text fields that could allow for various formats that users are often unsure about. Any anxiety the user has about the information they enter goes away immediately with instant validation. Instant field validation also significantly reduces the time it takes to fill out long forms. Users will be able to fill out the form correctly the first time they send it through instead of having to go back to meticulously correct each field errors and resend it again.
With the technology available today, designers can make filling out forms a better experience for users. Instant validation is not just a design trend, but a solution to the problems that many users face on forms. Using it can keep those users who often abandon forms after making errors in their seat to complete your form no matter how long it is.
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Ade
Aug 29th, 2011
Each to their own, I suppose, but I find it a bit annoying and — perhaps more importantly — distracting when client-side validation sticks a warning message or icon next to the input that I last used, as soon as I have tabbed from it.
As a user, I expect error messages, should any be needed, to be shown after submission. It’s a convention that feels normal and right and it allows the user to deal with errors in his own time and in an orderly way.
JS validation feels too assertive and, as a result, it tends to get in the way of the process rather than easing it.
Still, at least your suggestion is not as bad as the on-the-fly validation that insists that your e-mail address is invalid just as you start to type it.
(Incidentally, it’s poor form to require someone to use a JS-enabled browser just to submit a comment.)
Tobias
Aug 31st, 2011
Please everybody interested in inline form validation also read LukeW’s Article with insights from usability testing: http://www.alistapart.com/articles/inline-validation-in-web-forms/