You may have seen a short HTML attribute change how a field, image, or link behaves. This guide is about Inputmode Values: None, Text, Decimal, Numeric, Tel, Search, Email, Url. The inputmode attribute hints which virtual keyboard layout is most useful on phones.
The useful question is not simply “Which value should I memorize?” It is “What should people be able to do on this page?” First decide the goal, then choose an HTML value that matches it.
How the values work
| Value | Meaning |
|---|---|
none | No ordinary virtual keyboard is requested. |
text | Standard text input keyboard. |
decimal | Numeric keyboard with a decimal separator where available. |
numeric | Digit-oriented keyboard. |
tel | Telephone keypad. |
search | Keyboard suited to search. |
email | Keyboard with characters commonly used in email addresses. |
url | Keyboard suited to typing web addresses. |
A practical example
<label for="postal-code">Postal code</label>
<input id="postal-code" name="postal-code" inputmode="numeric">
<label for="price">Price</label>
<input id="price" name="price" inputmode="decimal">Understanding the code
Start by finding the attribute in the example. The HTML element tells the browser what kind of thing it is displaying; the attribute supplies an extra instruction or hint about that particular element. If you remove the attribute, the element usually still exists, but one part of its behavior may change.
inputmode changes the keyboard hint, not the data type or validation rules. A numeric keyboard does not mean the user cannot paste letters.
If a file path or form action appears in the code, it is an example project path. Create the matching file or server endpoint before expecting the complete behavior to work. This distinction is important: HTML describes the page, but it does not automatically build a server or create missing resources.
When to use it
Use inputmode only where its documented behavior helps someone complete a task. Ask whether the choice improves clarity, keyboard access, performance, or correct data collection. If an extra attribute has no clear purpose, leaving it out may be safer than relying on a poorly understood hint.
Try it yourself
Open the form on a phone, compare inputmode="numeric" and inputmode="decimal", then test pasting nonnumeric text.
Save the code in a local HTML file, open it in a current browser, and inspect the relevant control or request. When the feature depends on a server, use a small local development server rather than guessing from the source alone.
Common Beginner Mistakes
- Using inputmode instead of an appropriate input type, pattern, and server-side validation.
- Assuming every browser provides identical controls or follows a hint in exactly the same way.
- Copying a demonstration without providing the files or server behavior it expects.
Key Takeaways
- Choose inputmode for convenience, not for enforcing the value.
- Choose the value based on what the visitor needs to do, not only on how the source looks.
- Test the result in the browser, including keyboard access and submitted values where relevant.