Webmaster Forum / ColdFusion / Getting Started / March 2007

<INPUT> is a HTML construct, while <CFINPUT> is a ColdFusion object.  Purists
tend to use <FORM> and the HTML constructs that accompany it.  

Check out
http://livedocs.adobe.com/coldfusion/5.0/CFML_Reference/Tags53.htm#1100379 for
the attributes associated with <CFINPUT>

In an html form cfinput is a deluxe model input.  It gives you access to some
javascript so you don't have to write your own.  Many of the attributes for
cfinput (you have to read jdeline's reference) are not available with input.

In a flash form, it's the only thing you can use.

Either pathway is valid and common ... it's just a really good idea to stick
with one path for a project once you start one way or the other however.

If you want to use CFINPUT you have to use CFFORM

If you have need for simple validations (or even a few complex ones) CFFORM
and CFINPUT give you all that built in w/o you needing to know javascript and
is somewhat flexible in so much as you can specify your own error messages and
even specify your own forumations using the Regular Expression functions.

I use either one, but I determine the project's requirements beforehand to
make sure one or teh other is a good fit before using it.

If your a coldfusion developer, you might as well take advantage of coldfusion technology. Use CFINPUT. its always good with clientside and serverside validation

[i]what is the difference between input vs cfinput??
major benefits??[/i]

I can think immediately of

<input>
- familiarity
- simplicity

<cfinput>
- available in HTML, Flash, XML; thanks to cfform, does all <input> can do and
more
- preserveData
- client-side and server-side validation
- dateField
- binding
- (URL of) images to use on buttons
- mask
- tooltip