HTML name Attribute
Definition and Usage
The name attribute specifies a name for an HTML element.
This name attribute can be used to reference the element in a JavaScript.
For a <form> element, the
name attribute is used as a reference when the data is submitted.
For an <iframe> element, the
name attribute can be used to target a form submission.
For a <map> element, the
name attribute is associated with the <img>'s
usemap attribute and creates a relationship between the image and the map.
For a <meta> element, the
name attribute specifies a name for the information/value of the
content attribute.
For a <param> element, the
name attribute is used together with the value attribute to specify
parameters for the plugin specified with the <object>
tag.
Applies to
The name attribute can be used on the following elements:
| Elements | Attribute |
|---|---|
| <button> | name |
| <fieldset> | name |
| <form> | name |
| <iframe> | name |
| <input> | name |
| <map> | name |
| <meta> | name |
| <object> | name |
| <output> | name |
| <param> | name |
| <select> | name |
| <textarea> | name |
Examples
Example
Two buttons with equal names, that submit different values when clicked:
<form action="/action_page.php" method="get">
Choose your favorite subject:
<button name="subject" type="submit" value="HTML">HTML</button>
<button name="subject" type="submit" value="CSS">CSS</button>
</form>
Try it Yourself »
Fieldset Example
A <fieldset> with a name attribute:
<fieldset name="personalia">
Name: <input type="text"><br>
Email: <input type="text"><br>
</fieldset>
Try it Yourself »
Form Example
An HTML form with a name attribute:
<form
action="/action_page.php"
method="get" name="myForm">
First name: <input type="text" name="fname"><br>
Last name:
<input type="text" name="lname"><br>
<input type="button" onclick="formSubmit()" value="Send form data!">
</form>
Try it Yourself »
Iframe Example
An <iframe> that act as a target for a link:
<iframe src="demo_iframe.htm" name="iframe_a"></iframe>
<a href="https://www.w3schools.com" target="iframe_a">W3Schools.com</a>
Try it Yourself »
Input Example
An HTML form with three input fields; two text fields and one submit button:
<form
action="/action_page.php">
Name: <input type="text" name="fullname"><br>
Email:
<input type="text" name="email"><br>
<input type="submit" value="Submit">
</form>
Try it Yourself »
Map Example
An image map, with clickable areas:
<img src="planets.gif"
width="145" height="126"
alt="Planets"
usemap="#planetmap">
<map
name="planetmap">
<area shape="rect" coords="0,0,82,126" href="sun.htm" alt="Sun">
<area shape="circle" coords="90,58,3" href="mercur.htm" alt="Mercury">
<area shape="circle" coords="124,58,8" href="venus.htm" alt="Venus">
</map>
Try it Yourself »
Meta Example
Use the name attribute to define a description, keywords, and the author of an HTML document:
<head>
<meta name="description" content="Free Web tutorials">
<meta name="keywords" content="HTML,CSS,JavaScript">
<meta name="author" content="Hege Refsnes">
</head>
Try it Yourself »
Object Example
An <object> element with a name attribute:
<object data="helloworld.swf" width="400" height="400"
name="obj1"></object>
Try it Yourself »
Output Example
Perform a calculation and show the result in an <output> element:
<form oninput="x.value=parseInt(a.value)+parseInt(b.value)">0
<input type="range" id="a" value="50">100
+<input type="number" id="b" value="50">
=<output name="x" for="a b"></output>
</form>
Try it Yourself »
Param Example
Set the "autoplay" parameter to "true", so the sound will start playing as soon as the page loads:
<object data="horse.wav">
<param name="autoplay" value="true">
</object>
Try it Yourself »
Select Example
A drop-down list with a name attribute:
<select name="cars">
<option value="volvo">Volvo</option>
<option value="saab">Saab</option>
<option value="opel">Opel</option>
<option value="audi">Audi</option>
</select>
Try it Yourself »
Textarea Example
A text area with a name attribute:
<form action="/action_page.php">
<textarea name="comment">Enter text here...</textarea>
<input type="submit">
</form>
Try it Yourself »
Browser Support
The name attribute has the following browser support for each element:
| Element | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| button | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| fieldset | Yes | Not supported | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| form | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| iframe | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| input | 1.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| map | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| meta | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| object | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| output | 10.0 | Not supported | 4.0 | 5.1 | 11.0 |
| param | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| select | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| textarea | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
