How to send email from an HTML form: 7 important things to know

Ever wanted to allow website visitors to send you messages directly through your site? Adding an email form is simpler than you might think, but it's crucial to get the details right.

In this article, we'll talk about creating a secure and user-friendly HTML form. We'll give you an overview of how to make your HTML contact form and send email effectively and the important matters you should take into account. Use it as a roadmap and a checklist for you to know what to take care of and what to avoid.

What is an HTML form for sending emails, and why you may need one

An HTML email form is a web-based interface that lets visitors send you messages by email while visiting your website. Think of it as a digital equivalent of a contact card – but smarter and more efficient.

 An HTML email form usually includes several fields. The most common are: the sender's name, email address, subject, and message body. There may be other custom fields to suit specific needs. 

Integrating such a form into a website simplifies the communication. It allows users to send messages directly without leaving the site. It ensures that businesses can promptly address inquiries, feedback, or requests.

Digital communication continues to grow, and having an HTML email form becomes an essential tool for fostering engagement with visitors. Website owners are adopting this feature to enhance user experience and maintain efficient communication channels.

An HTML Contact form example

Key consideration point of an email forms include:

• Security measures: Email forms help prevent spam by including verification steps like reCAPTCHA. and offer features such as auto-responders to acknowledge messages.
• Valuable analytics: Email forms provide insights into user engagement.
• Advanced sorting: Emails can be classified based on their purpose. It makes it easier to organize and respond to inquiries.
• Customization: Email forms can be tailored to match your website’s goal and appearance. This ensures you receive all necessary information from the sender.
• Better communication: Email forms provide an easy, streamlined communication channel.

Why Emails Can't Be Sent Directly from HTML Forms

Unfortunately, emails can't be sent directly from HTML forms. HTML is a markup language and totally lacks the ability to process and transmit data. When a user submits a form, the browser can only send the data to an endpoint specified in the form’s action attribute, but it cannot handle the actual data processing.

Developers use backend languages (like PHP or Python) together with their own SMTP servers or third-party email services (like SendGrid or UniOne) to send emails. The latter option ensures better security, reliability, and control over email delivery.

How can I create a simple HTML form to send an email?

To create a simple HTML form that allows users to send an email, you need both an HTML form for user input and some backend code to handle email sending.

If you want a very basic, client-side solution without a backend, you can use the mailto: scheme in the form’s action attribute. However, this approach relies on the user's default email client to send the message. It lacks customization options like form validation or the ability to track responses.

What are the available methods for creating web forms?

There are several methods for creating web forms. Choosing the perfect one for your case depends on many factors, including project complexity. Simple forms can work with static HTML, but interactive apps need advanced approaches.

Static HTML Code

This is the simplest method, where form elements are created using static HTML. In other words, the form has a constant, predefined markup which stays fixed until you decide to adjust something manually. It’s easy to implement, but lacks versatility.

Static or Dynamic HTML + JavaScript and Ajax Submission

JavaScript can improve static forms by adding validation and interactivity. For example, you may add visual clues to help the client fill in the fields they’ve overlooked. Ajax (this acronym stands for Asynchronous JavaScript And XML) lets you submit data without reloading the page. This improves user experience by enhancing the form’s responsiveness.

Using a Form Library or Framework

To simplify client-side development, you may use JavaScript frameworks instead of writing the necessary code from scratch. Modern web frameworks (like React, Angular or Vue.js) provide many important features to submit html forms. There are reusable components, built-in validation, and state management for complex forms.

Additionally, these frameworks offer plenty of form libraries to streamline form management. React's most popular libraries to work with forms are Formik and React Hook Form. However, keep in mind that mastering any of these frameworks requires a substantial amount of time and effort.

Generating Markup on the Server with a Scripting Language

Instead of static HTML, form elements can be generated dynamically based on previous user input, database data, or other conditions. This approach allows for more flexible and personalized forms but depends heavily on server-side scripting.

If you're thinking of using PHP to send emails from an HTML form, tutorials like How to Send Email Using PHP and Sending Email With PHP will offer more helpful insights.

Again, for server-side coding you may also make use of frameworks, like Laravel or Symphony. However, the complexity concern applies here as well: you need a large-scale project to justify the investment in learning these complex tools.

Processing form data on the server's side

Client-side data validation is helpful for catching errors early and improving user experience. But it is not a security measure and should never replace server-side verification. To process form data correctly, a secure backend must handle the following:

• Server-side validation and sanitization: Ensures data integrity by handling unsafe character sequences and enforcing proper formatting. This protects against SQL injection (SQLi), cross-site scripting (XSS), and cross-site request forgery (CSRF).
• Preventing spam and automated attacks: Using reCAPTCHA blocks bots and reduces the amount of spam that could overwhelm your mailbox.
• Avoiding multiple submissions: Prevents users from submitting the same data multiple times, ensuring accuracy and efficiency.
• Storing form data securely: Validated submissions should be saved in a database with security measures like prepared statements and encryption.
• Handling email notifications: Emails triggered by forms should be sent through authenticated and secure email services to prevent spoofing and spam.

By implementing these measures, developers ensure secure and efficient form data processing.

How to test and troubleshoot the form’s functionality

Testing and troubleshooting a web form ensures that it works correctly and securely before deployment. 

Key troubleshooting steps are:

• Check validation: Test required fields and error messages for both valid and invalid inputs.
• Inspect network requests: Use developer tools to spot submission issues and JavaScript errors.
• Review server logs: Look for backend errors such as missing parameters or failed connections.

Using automated testing tools, such as Selenium or Jest, can help detect regressions when updating the form. A well-tested form improves user experience, security, and generally reliability.

Fixing email sending problems

Fixing email sending problems involves a step-by-step approach. The purpose here is to isolate the cause of the issue. By following these key steps, you can resolve common email delivery problems.

Key steps for fixing email sending problems are:

• Check backend settings: Verify email parameters and SMTP server settings.
• Inspect spam/junk folder: Ensure emails aren't flagged as spam.
• Review deliverability issues: Check for blacklisting, SPF/DKIM records, or sender reputation problems.

How UniOne Can Help 

Are you still wondering how to send email from an HTML form the most reliable way? UniOne offers an intuitive, robust, and efficient email delivery platform. With UniOne, you don’t need to worry about complex server setup or managing your own email infrastructure. The platform is designed to save you time, allowing you to focus on your business while it takes care of the technical details. 

Here’s how UniOne can support you in this process:

• Simple Integration: UniOne provides easy-to-use Web API and SMTP configurations. You can use them to integrate email functionality with your apps at any scale.
• Reliable Delivery: It ensures that every email sent from the form is delivered promptly.
• Customization: You can customize email templates to match your branding and messaging needs and populate them with form data.
• Spam Protection: UniOne offers anti-spam protection, so your emails aren't flagged as spam.
• Tracking: You can track email delivery and other events for each submission.

Сonclusion

Creating an html form to email feedback from your users is a powerful way to collect contact data through email. There are different techniques to create email forms. The best one for your project depends on various factors. For simple forms, static HTML may be enough. More complex, interactive applications need advanced techniques.

Platforms like UniOne can enhance working with HTML email forms by streamlining the email part. They offer features like spam protection, template customization, and delivery tracking.

Choosing proper approaches with HTML forms is important. It will definitely boost your experience of interacting with your website's users.

FAQ

1. How do I make my HTML form send an email?

To make your HTML form send an email, you need to set up a server-side script (using programming languages such as PHP, Node.js, or Python) to handle the form data and send it via an email service. The form itself provides only basic HTML input fields to enter data, while the server-side code processes the data and sends an email to the designated recipient. You can use third-party email delivery platforms like UniOne to simplify this process and ensure reliable delivery.

2. Can I send an email directly from HTML without a backend server?

No, HTML is just a markup language, and client-side JavaScript cannot send emails directly. Sending emails requires server-side processing. You’ll need to use technologies like PHP, Node.js, and possibly an email API service like UniOne to handle the form submission and send the email.

3. What are the best practices for handling email form submissions securely?

To secure email form submissions, always use HTTPS to encrypt the data sent through the form. Implement anti-spam measures, such as reCAPTCHA, to prevent spam attacks. Additionally, sanitize and validate user input on both the client and server sides to avoid injection attacks. Use a reputable email platform like UniOne to help ensure safe and secure email delivery.