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Bootstrap Forms


Bootstrap's Default Settings

Form controls automatically receive some global styling with Bootstrap:

All textual <input>, <textarea>, and <select> elements with class .form-control have a width of 100%.


Bootstrap Form Layouts

Bootstrap provides three types of form layouts:

  • Vertical form (this is default)
  • Horizontal form
  • Inline form

Standard rules for all three form layouts:

  • Wrap labels and form controls in <div class="form-group"> (needed for optimum spacing)
  • Add class .form-control to all textual <input>, <textarea>, and <select> elements

Bootstrap Vertical Form (default)

The following example creates a vertical form with two input fields, one checkbox, and a submit button:

Example

<form action="/action_page.php">
  <div class="form-group">
    <label for="email">Email address:</label>
    <input type="email" class="form-control" id="email">
  </div>
  <div class="form-group">
    <label for="pwd">Password:</label>
    <input type="password" class="form-control" id="pwd">
  </div>
  <div class="checkbox">
    <label><input type="checkbox"> Remember me</label>
  </div>
  <button type="submit" class="btn btn-default">Submit</button>
</form>
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Bootstrap Inline Form

In an inline form, all of the elements are inline, left-aligned, and the labels are alongside.

Note: This only applies to forms within viewports that are at least 768px wide!

Additional rule for an inline form:

  • Add class .form-inline to the <form> element

The following example creates an inline form with two input fields, one checkbox, and one submit button:

Example

<form class="form-inline" action="/action_page.php">
  <div class="form-group">
    <label for="email">Email address:</label>
    <input type="email" class="form-control" id="email">
  </div>
  <div class="form-group">
    <label for="pwd">Password:</label>
    <input type="password" class="form-control" id="pwd">
  </div>
  <div class="checkbox">
    <label><input type="checkbox"> Remember me</label>
  </div>
  <button type="submit" class="btn btn-default">Submit</button>
</form>
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Tip: If you don't include a label for every input, screen readers will have trouble with your forms. You can hide the labels for all devices, except screen readers, by using the .sr-only class:

Example

<form class="form-inline" action="/action_page.php">
  <div class="form-group">
    <label class="sr-only" for="email">Email address:</label>
    <input type="email" class="form-control" id="email">
  </div>
  <div class="form-group">
    <label class="sr-only" for="pwd">Password:</label>
    <input type="password" class="form-control" id="pwd">
  </div>
  <div class="checkbox">
    <label><input type="checkbox"> Remember me</label>
  </div>
  <button type="submit" class="btn btn-default">Submit</button>
</form>
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Bootstrap Horizontal Form

A horizontal form means that the labels are aligned next to the input field (horizontal) on large and medium screens. On small screens (767px and below), it will transform to a vertical form (labels are placed on top of each input).

Additional rules for a horizontal form:

  • Add class .form-horizontal to the <form> element
  • Add class .control-label to all <label> elements

Tip: Use Bootstrap's predefined grid classes to align labels and groups of form controls in a horizontal layout.

The following example creates a horizontal form with two input fields, one checkbox, and one submit button.

Example

<form class="form-horizontal" action="/action_page.php">
  <div class="form-group">
    <label class="control-label col-sm-2" for="email">Email:</label>
    <div class="col-sm-10">
      <input type="email" class="form-control" id="email" placeholder="Enter email">
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="form-group">
    <label class="control-label col-sm-2" for="pwd">Password:</label>
    <div class="col-sm-10">
      <input type="password" class="form-control" id="pwd" placeholder="Enter password">
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="form-group">
    <div class="col-sm-offset-2 col-sm-10">
      <div class="checkbox">
        <label><input type="checkbox"> Remember me</label>
      </div>
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="form-group">
    <div class="col-sm-offset-2 col-sm-10">
      <button type="submit" class="btn btn-default">Submit</button>
    </div>
  </div>
</form>
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