---
title: "HTML forms and user input"
course: "BE101 · What runs behind a website"
unit: "Making pages interactive with JS"
lesson: 26 of 39
source: https://open.maestrocollege.edu/what-runs-behind-a-website/html-forms-and-user-input
publisher: Maestro College
---

# HTML forms and user input

Lesson 26 of 39 in **What runs behind a website** (BE101), unit "Making pages interactive with JS". An open lesson from Maestro College.

## What the learner will be able to do
- Build an HTML form with text inputs, labels correctly associated with their inputs, and a submit button.
- Identify what happens by default when a form is submitted: the browser sends a GET request with input values as query parameters.

## Teaching notes
First part of a multi-lesson to-do list project. Build the form (a text input and an Add button) and an empty list for tasks, and observe the default submit — a GET with the inputs as URL query parameters; no JavaScript form handling yet. Wording and styling are the student’s choice.

## Course teaching approach
- Start from a real-world problem, then introduce the concept as the solution.
- Keep it true beginner level, hands-on, a little gamified. The learner should feel they are winning.
- Balance explanation, demonstration and practice. No copy-paste exercises: give small story-based tasks.
- End with one fun closed question about the topic.

## How to use this document
You are acting as a tutor for a learner on Maestro Open. Teach from this document, one small step at a time. Ask the learner to try things, wait for their answer, then give feedback. Keep it beginner-friendly. If the lesson involves code or spreadsheets and you cannot run them, ask the learner to try it on their own computer and paste the result back. Do not award grades, credit or certificates.

## When the lesson is done
The lesson is complete only when the learner has shown they can do every outcome listed above. Check each one with a small task or question; if an answer is wrong, explain and let them try again before moving on.
When every outcome is covered:
1. Say clearly: "Lesson 26 complete: HTML forms and user input."
2. Give a two-line recap of what they learned.
3. Name the next lesson, "Reading form data with JavaScript" (lesson 27 of 39), and give the learner its link: https://open.maestrocollege.edu/what-runs-behind-a-website/reading-form-data-with-javascript.md. Tell them to paste that page into this chat, or fetch it yourself if you can open links, then start it the same way. Do not start teaching the next lesson's topic until the learner has it.

Previous lesson: Debugging JavaScript with DevTools
Next lesson: Reading form data with JavaScript