This page explains how to use form elements such as drop-down menus, radio buttons, etc. as used on many pages within this site, (indeed on many sites on the Internet), especially on pages containing interactive excercises.
Below you can see the different type of form elements you may envounter on a typical web page form.
Text box:
This allows you to enter free-format text. Try it!
Text area:
This allows you to enter a larger amount of free-format text and scroll-bars will appear when your text becomes too big to fit in the size of box displayed. Try entering a few words and pressing the Return or Enter key every few words to see what happens.
(Note: Scroll-bars let you see different parts of the text in the textarea. Click on a bar with your left mouse button and drag the bar while keeping the button pressed down to see it's effect.)
Radio buttons: Option A. Option B. Option C.
Try clicking on these. You can only select one of them at a time. When a button is selected, you'll see a dot appear in the button.
Checkboxes: Option A. Option B. Option C.
With checkboxes, you can select as many as you want. When a checkbox is selected, you'll see a tick or cross appear in the box.
Drop-down menu or select box:
Please selectOption 1Option 2Option 3
Click on the menu to make a list of options appear. Click on the option you want and it will be selected.
Multiple selection box:
Please selectOption 1Option 2Option 3Option 4Option 5Option 6
This element has a scrollable list of options. Use the scroll-bar to see different parts of the list. Click on the option you want and it will be highlighted. To select more than one option, press the Control (CTRL) button while clicking on the list. To select a whole range of options at once, click on the first option, then click on the last option while holding down the Shift key.
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