Online forms are completed by typing requested information into boxes (also known as ‘fields’) or choosing information from lists that can be presented in various ways.

There may also be a range of options from which you can choose by

• clicking small boxes (called check boxes)

• clicking on circles (called radio buttons)

If you want to join online events or place online orders, you are likely to come across a lot of these forms!

Forms are a part of daily life you can use forms to:

• Fill out tax returns

• Apply for a driving licence

• Apply for benefits like Universal Credit

• Booking tickets

Key features of online forms

Check boxes:

These are small boxes that you need to click in order to tick or untick as required. Watch out for these at the bottom of forms with the ‘small print’.

You may also need to tick a box to confirm that you’ve read the terms and conditions of the website and there should be a link to click on. Always make sure you read the Terms so that you know what you are signing up for.

Submit button:

This button needs to be clicked on to send the completed form. It may say ‘Submit’ or something similar, depending on the purpose of the form. Make sure you click this just once. If you ‘double click’ you may send the form twice.

If there is a problem with the form, for example, if you’ve forgotten to complete an essential field, it won’t be submitted. You will receive an automated message telling you something is wrong and the problem area of the form is usually highlighted in red. You will need to complete that field and submit the form again.

Other things to remember

• The insertion point (or cursor) must be in a field before you can type into it. If it isn’t there, place your mouse pointer in the field and do a left click.

• The quickest way to move the insertion point to the next field is to press the Tab key on your keyboard, but you can also click on it with your mouse.

• Don’t press the Enter key until you’ve finished completing the form. If you press it earlier, it may think you’ve finished which means that you will probably have to start again from the beginning.

• Make sure you only enter the information that is requested. If a question doesn’t apply to you, leave it blank.

• Password, dates, telephone numbers, and postal codes usually need to be typed in a certain format e.g. with or without a space. There may be an explanation of what’s required written next to or below the field.

• Sometimes, clicking an "i" or "?" next to a field will give you information about how to complete it.

• Clicking an icon next to a date field will open a calendar – click on a date to choose it.