The use of forms on the Web is so commonplace that most user interactions involve some type of form. XForms - a combination of XML and forms - offers a powerful alternative to HTML-based forms. By providing excellent XML integration, including XML Schema, XForms allows developers to create flexible, web-based user-input forms for a wide variety of platforms, including desktop computers, handhelds, information appliances, and more. This is an introduction and practical guide to the new XForms specification. It explains the how and why of XForms, showing readers how to take advantage of them without having to write their own code. You'll learn how to integrate XForms with both HTML and XML vocabularies, and how XForms can simplify the connection between client-based user input and server-based processing. The book begins with a general introduction to Web forms, including information on history and basic construction of forms. The second part serves as a reference manual to the XForms specification. The third section offers additional hints, guidelines, and techniques for working with XForms. Topics covered in the book include: creating XForms files in a text or XML editor; converting existing forms (electronic or paper) to XForms; collecting XML data from users in a user-friendly way; reducing the amount of JavaScript needed within browser interfaces; increasing the security and reliability of your current forms system by combining client-side and server-side checks into a common code base; and creating interactive Websites using the latest standard technology. This text focuses on the practical application of XForms technology. If you work with forms, HTML, or XML information, XForms Essentials will provide you with a much simpler route to more sophisticated interactions with users.