Static website forms refer to web forms that are created and hosted on static websites. Unlike dynamic website forms that depend on server-side processing and database interactions, static website forms rely on client-side technologies to capture user input and manage form submissions.
Static website forms are built using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, and they are directly embedded within the web pages of the static website. When a user fills out the form and submits it, the form data is processed entirely on the client-side without the need for server-side involvement.
Handling form data within a static website can be done in several ways:
1. JavaScript and AJAX: JavaScript is used to collect the form data, perform validation, and send it to a server endpoint using AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML) requests. The server endpoint can be an API or a serverless function responsible for processing the data.
2. Third-party form handling services: Various third-party services such as Fabform offer form handling functionalities tailored for static websites. These services typically provide APIs or form submission endpoints that can be configured to receive and process form data. They handle the form submissions on behalf of the website owner and may offer features such as data storage, email notifications, etc.
3. Email submissions: In some cases, static websites may choose to send form data via email. The form data is gathered and formatted into an email message, which is then sent to a designated email address. However, this approach has become less common due to concerns such as spam and email deliverability.
It's worth noting that static website forms have certain limitations compared to dynamic forms. They are generally suitable for basic contact forms or simple data collection tasks but may lack support for advanced features like complex form validation, user authentication, or extensive data processing. For more sophisticated functionalities, a dynamic website with server-side processing is typically required.