Peter Lubbers - Pro HTML 5 Programming

The autocomplete Attribute
CHAPTER 7 ■ USING THE HTML5 FORMS API
The autocomplete attribute, introduced in Internet Explorer 5.5, has finally been standardized. Hooray!
(Browsers have been supporting the attribute for nearly as long as its inception, but having a specified
behavior helps everyone.)
The autocomplete attribute tells the browser whether or not the value of this input should be saved
for future. For example:
The autocomplete attribute should be used to protect sensitive user data from insecure storage in
the local browser files. Table 7-4 shows the different behavior types.
Table 7-4. Autocomplete behavior in input controls
Type Purpose
on The field is not secure, and its value can be saved and restored.
off The field is secure, and its value should not be saved.
unspecified Default to the setting on the containing . If not contained in a form, or no value is
set on the form, then behave as if on.
The autofocus Attribute
The autofocus attribute lets a developer specify that a given form element should take input focus
immediately when the page loads. Only one attribute per page should specify the autofocus attribute.
Behavior is undefined if more than one control is set to autofocus.
■ Note Only one autofocus control per page is difficult to achieve if your content is being rendered into a portal or
shared content page. Do not rely on autofocus if you are not in complete control of the page.
To set the focus automatically to a control such as a search text field, simply set the autofocus
attribute on that element alone:
Like other boolean attributes, no value needs to be specified for the true case.
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