Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Call document.forms["myForm"].submit() to invoke the browser form submission for that form
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
JavaScript provides several ways to submit HTML forms programmatically, which is useful for custom validation, dynamic user interfaces, and user experience enhancements. This question focuses on the standard way to submit a form named myForm from client side JavaScript by calling its submit method correctly.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
In the browser, forms are available through the document.forms collection or directly as properties of the document object in many cases. Each form element exposes a submit method. Calling this method programmatically mimics the action of the user pressing a submit button. A common and clear pattern is document.forms["myForm"].submit(). This accesses the form by its name and then calls the submit method with parentheses, instructing the browser to send the form data to the server according to the form action and method attributes.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the form object in the document using its name, such as document.forms["myForm"].
Step 2: Remember that form objects expose a submit method that triggers submission.
Step 3: Combine these concepts into the expression document.forms["myForm"].submit().
Step 4: Choose the option that clearly shows this pattern with parentheses, indicating a method call.
Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify by writing a small HTML page with a form named myForm and a JavaScript function that runs document.forms["myForm"].submit() on a button click or other event. When the function executes, the browser submits the form just as if the user had pressed the submit button. Without the parentheses, the submit property is referenced but not executed, so no submission occurs. This confirms that the correct answer uses parentheses to call the method.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B is wrong because omitting parentheses means the function is not invoked. Option C is incorrect because setting the action attribute alone does not submit the form. Option D is wrong because there is no standard submitForm method on the window object for direct use in this way. Option E is incorrect because programmatic form submission with JavaScript is commonly used in many web applications.
Common Pitfalls:
A common pitfall is to override the submit method by naming a form field submit, which shadows the method and breaks code. Another mistake is to forget the parentheses when calling submit. When designing user flows, developers must also ensure that validation and user feedback are handled appropriately before calling submit programmatically.
Final Answer:
Call document.forms["myForm"].submit() to invoke the browser form submission for that form
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