[Mailman-Developers] The Philosophy of Web Use.

[Laura Carlson]

Ethan wrote:

>> No in-page form validation?

Brad wrote:

> I'd rather not, no. I have yet to see a single place on the Internet
> that actually does it right, and across all platform/browser
> combinations.

When using Javascript for form validation, there is a right way and a 
wrong way.

The right way (which I am sure Ethan already knows) is to use 
Javascript as an optional extra to improve usability. All form 
submissions are validated on the server. If the reader has Javascript 
available, an initial validation is done on the client, to check for 
*simple* errors such as missing information or non-numeric characters 
in a numeric field. This means the user gets faster feedback than 
waiting for a response from the server.

Javascript validation should be always optional. Since the validation 
must be on the server anyway, it is silly to insist that the user must 
have Javascript. Adding Javascript validation should help some readers 
and hinder nobody.

Best Regards,
Laura
___________________________________________
Laura L. Carlson
Information Technology Systems and Services
University of Minnesota Duluth
Duluth, MN U.S.A. 55812-3009
http://www.d.umn.edu/goto/webdesign/