Skip to main content

Best Practices

Following these best practices will help you create effective, user-friendly forms that collect high-quality data and provide a positive user experience.

Form Design​

  • Keep forms as short as possible

    • Include only essential fields
    • Break long forms into multiple steps
    • Consider whether each field is truly necessary

  • Group related fields together

    • Use fieldsets, panels, or tabs to organize content
    • Follow a logical progression of information
    • Consider the user's mental model when organizing fields

  • Use clear, concise labels

    • Be specific about what information is required
    • Use consistent terminology throughout the form
    • Avoid technical jargon unless necessary

  • Provide helpful descriptions for complex fields

    • Explain why information is being collected
    • Offer examples of expected formats
    • Include tooltips for additional guidance

  • Use appropriate field types for different data

    • Select components that match the data being collected
    • Use specialized components (date pickers, address fields, etc.) when available
    • Consider the user's input method (keyboard, touch, etc.)

  • Consider mobile users when designing layouts

    • Test forms on different screen sizes
    • Use responsive layouts
    • Ensure touch targets are large enough
    • Minimize the need for typing on mobile devices

Validation​

  • Only make fields required when necessary

    • Consider whether the information is truly essential
    • Provide clear indications of which fields are required
    • Explain why required information is needed

  • Use appropriate validation for different field types

    • Apply format validation for emails, phone numbers, etc.
    • Set reasonable min/max values for numeric fields
    • Use pattern validation for structured data (postal codes, IDs, etc.)

  • Provide clear error messages

    • Be specific about what went wrong
    • Offer guidance on how to fix the issue
    • Position error messages close to the relevant field
    • Use a friendly, non-technical tone

  • Test your form with various inputs

    • Try valid and invalid data
    • Test edge cases
    • Consider different user scenarios

Performance​

  • Avoid excessive use of complex components like data grids

    • Complex components can slow down form rendering
    • Consider alternatives for large data collections
    • Break complex data entry into multiple steps

  • Consider breaking very long forms into multi-step forms

    • Improves performance by loading only what's needed
    • Reduces cognitive load for users
    • Provides natural save points

  • Test your form with realistic data volumes

    • Ensure the form performs well with expected data loads
    • Consider the impact of file uploads and large data sets
    • Optimize for the expected number of submissions

Maintenance​

  • Use descriptive form names

    • Include the purpose and scope in the name
    • Consider adding version information
    • Use a consistent naming convention

  • Document complex form logic

    • Add comments to conditional logic
    • Maintain a separate document for complex forms
    • Include diagrams for complex workflows

  • Use version control for significant changes

    • Create new versions for major updates
    • Document changes between versions
    • Test thoroughly before publishing new versions

  • Test new versions thoroughly before publishing

    • Verify all components work as expected
    • Check validation rules
    • Test with various data scenarios
    • Ensure compatibility with existing workflows

Accessibility​

  • Use clear, descriptive labels

    • Screen readers rely on labels to identify fields
    • Avoid using placeholder text as the only label

  • Provide sufficient color contrast

    • Ensure text is readable against its background
    • Don't rely solely on color to convey information

  • Ensure keyboard navigation works

    • Test tab order
    • Verify that all interactive elements can be accessed via keyboard

  • Include descriptive error messages

    • Error messages should clearly identify the issue
    • Position error messages where they can be easily associated with the relevant field

  • Test with screen readers

    • Verify that all content is accessible
    • Check that form structure makes sense when read aloud

By following these guidelines and utilizing the powerful features of the OSPROV Form Builder, you can create effective, user-friendly forms for your workflows.