What is the ideal number of fields in a web form?

19 12 2022

Ideal number of fields in webform
Ideal number of fields in webform

The purpose of the form

The ideal number of fields in a web form depends on the purpose of the form and the specific needs of the business or organization collecting the information. Generally, the fewer fields a form has, the higher the conversion rate will be. However, if the form requires certain information to be collected, it may be necessary to have a larger number of fields.

What type of fields are used in webforms?

There are several types of fields that can be used in webforms:

  • Text fields: These allow users to input text into a designated area on the form.
  • Number fields: These allow users to input numerical data into a designated area on the form.
  • Email fields: These allow users to input their email address into a designated area on the form.
  • Dropdown menus: These allow users to select an option from a list of pre-determined choices.
  • Radio buttons: These allow users to select one option from a list of choices.
  • Checkboxes: These allow users to select multiple options from a list of choices.
  • Date fields: These allow users to input a specific date into a designated area on the form.
  • File upload fields: These allow users to upload a file (such as a document or image) to the form.
  • Textarea fields: These allow users to input a larger amount of text into a designated area on the form.
  • Hidden fields: These are fields that are not visible to users but are used to store information that needs to be sent with the form submission.

Autofill

Focus on fields that can be populated automatically by autofill. Autofill is a feature offered by some web browsers that allows users to automatically populate certain fields in web forms with previously entered information. That saves the user a lot of time and easier to complete the form. Fields that are ideal for autofill include:

  • Name: Users can save their full name, first name, and last name for autofill.
  • Email
  • Phone number
  • Address: Users can save their full address, including street, city, state, and zip code, for autofill.
  • Credit card: Users can save their credit card number, expiration date, and security code for autofill.

Autofill can save users time and effort by eliminating the need to manually enter this information each time they encounter a web form that requires it.

Form analytics

Form analytics can be used to answer this question more precisely by tracking form abandonment rates. Form abandonment tracking allows businesses to see how many users begin filling out a form but do not complete it. By analysing this data, businesses can identify which fields are causing users to abandon the form and adjust accordingly to optimise the form.

Webform optimisation

In addition, to form abandonment tracking, businesses can also use web form optimisation techniques to improve the overall user experience and increase conversion rates. This can include techniques such as A/B testing different form layouts and field configurations, optimising the form for mobile devices, and using clear and concise field labels. By using these techniques and analysing the data, businesses can determine the ideal number of fields for their specific web form.