---
title: Inline form validation
date: "2009-09-03T08:49:32Z"
categories:
  - coding
wp_id: 2393
description: I found that inline form validation can reduce completion time by 40%. Key takeaways include validating on blur rather than keypress and focusing on uncertain fields like username availability instead of common personal information.
keywords: [inline validation, web forms, ux design, usability, form completion, onblur]
---

A List Apart's article on [Inline Validation](http://www.alistapart.com/articles/inline-validation-in-web-forms/) is one of the most informative I've read in a while — and it's backed by solid data.

Some useful lessons:

- Inline validation can reduce form completion time by 40%
- Use inline validations where the user doesn't know if they'll get it wrong (e.g. is a username available?). Don't use them if user knows the answer (e.g. their name)
- Validate on blur, not on keypress (it's distracting, and users [can't multitask](http://www.azarask.in/blog/post/you-cant-multitask/))

---

## Comments

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- **jesse** _25 Sep 2009 4:15 pm_:
  maybe u should add some inline validation on your comments form, instead of the wordpress error page?

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