To effectively handle form validation errors, you should 1) display errors next to the relevant field using color and icons for visibility, 2) highlight invalid input fields visually with borders or background colors while avoiding reliance on color alone, and 3) ensure error messages are clear, specific, and actionable to guide users toward fixing the issue. These steps improve user experience by making errors easy to notice, understand, and correct.

當 users submit a form, and there's an error—like a missing email or a password that’s too short—you need to clearly show what went wrong. The key is to make the message helpful, easy to understand, and placed where the user can notice it without confusion.

1. Show errors next to the relevant field

One of the most effective ways to display validation errors is to place them right next to the input field they apply to. This helps users quickly identify which part of the form has a problem.

• Don’t put all errors at the top of the form unless you also link them to the specific fields.
• Use color (like red) and icons (like an exclamation mark) to draw attention.
• Keep the message short and specific:
  ? "Please enter a valid email address"
  ? "Error in form submission"

For example, if someone types "john@" in an email field, the error might say "Domain is missing (e.g., example.com)" just below the input box.

2. Highlight the input field visually

Just showing text isn't always enough. You should also highlight the problematic input field so users can scan the form and spot issues fast.

• Add a red border or background color to invalid fields.
• Consider adding an icon inside or next to the input.
• Avoid using only color to indicate errors—some users may not see it well.

A common approach is to add a class like is-invalid in CSS or JavaScript frameworks, which changes the appearance and can be reused across different forms.

3. Make sure messages are actionable and clear

It’s not enough to say “Invalid input.” Users should know exactly what to do to fix the issue.

• Be specific about the problem and the expected format.
• If a password needs uppercase and numbers, say so clearly.
• Avoid technical jargon or vague statements.

Examples:

• Instead of “Invalid phone number,” use: “Enter your phone number in this format: (123) 456-7890”
• Instead of “Required,” try: “This field is required — please fill it in”

Also, keep messages consistent across your app or site. If you use one style for email errors on one page, don’t change it on another.

That’s basically how you handle validation errors effectively. It’s not complicated, but getting these small details right makes a big difference in user experience.

The above is the detailed content of How do I display validation errors to the user?. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!