Bootstrap's Default Settings
Form controls automatically receive some global styling with Bootstrap.
All textual <input>, <textarea>, and <select> elements with class .form-control have a width of 100%.
Bootstrap Form Layouts
Bootstrap provides three types of form layouts:
- Vertical form (this is default)
- Horizontal form
- Inline form
Standard rules for all three form layouts:
- Wrap labels and form controls in <div class="form-group"> (needed for optimum spacing)
- Add class .form-control to all textual <input>, <textarea>, and <select> elements
Bootstrap Vertical Form (default)
The following example creates a vertical form with two input fields, one checkbox, and a submit button:
EXAMPLE:
<form action="/action_page.php">
<div class="form-group">
<label for="email">Email address:</label>
<input type="email" class="form-control" id="email">
</div>
<div class="form-group">
<label for="pwd">Password:</label>
<input type="password" class="form-control" id="pwd">
</div>
<div class="checkbox">
<label><input type="checkbox"> Remember me</label>
</div>
<button type="submit" class="btn btn-default">Submit</button>
</form>
Bootstrap Inline Form
In an inline form, all of the elements are inline, left-aligned, and the labels are alongside.
Note: This only applies to forms within viewports that are at least 768px wide!
Additional rule for an inline form:
- Add class .form-inline to the <form> element
The following example creates an inline form with two input fields, one checkbox, and one submit button:
EXAMPLE:
<form class="form-inline" action="/action_page.php">
<div class="form-group">
<label for="email">Email address:</label>
<input type="email" class="form-control" id="email">
</div>
<div class="form-group">
<label for="pwd">Password:</label>
<input type="password" class="form-control" id="pwd">
</div>
<div class="checkbox">
<label><input type="checkbox"> Remember me</label>
</div>
<button type="submit" class="btn btn-default">Submit</button>
</form>
Tip: If you don't include a label for every input, screen readers will have trouble with your forms. You can hide the labels for all devices, except screen readers, by using the .sr-only class:
EXAMPLE:
<form class="form-inline" action="/action_page.php">
<div class="form-group">
<label class="sr-only" for="email">Email address:</label>
<input type="email" class="form-control" id="email">
</div>
<div class="form-group">
<label class="sr-only" for="pwd">Password:</label>
<input type="password" class="form-control" id="pwd">
</div>
<div class="checkbox">
<label><input type="checkbox"> Remember me</label>
</div>
<button type="submit" class="btn btn-default">Submit</button>
</form>
Bootstrap Horizontal Form
A horizontal form means that the labels are aligned next to the input field (horizontal) on large and medium screens. On small screens (767px and below), it will transform to a vertical form (labels are placed on top of each input).
Additional rules for a horizontal form:
- Add class .form-horizontal to the <form> element
- Add class .control-label to all <label> elements
Tip: Use Bootstrap's predefined grid classes to align labels and groups of form controls in a horizontal layout.
The following example creates a horizontal form with two input fields, one checkbox, and one submit button.
EXAMPLE:
<form class="form-horizontal" action="/action_page.php">
<div class="form-group">
<label class="control-label col-sm-2" for="email">Email:</label>
<div class="col-sm-10">
<input type="email" class="form-control" id="email" placeholder="Enter email">
</div>
</div>
<div class="form-group">
<label class="control-label col-sm-2" for="pwd">Password:</label>
<div class="col-sm-10">
<input type="password" class="form-control" id="pwd" placeholder="Enter password">
</div>
</div>
<div class="form-group">
<div class="col-sm-offset-2 col-sm-10">
<div class="checkbox">
<label><input type="checkbox"> Remember me</label>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="form-group">
<div class="col-sm-offset-2 col-sm-10">
<button type="submit" class="btn btn-default">Submit</button>
</div>
</div>
</form>