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form_number()

function form_number(string $name, string|int|float|null $value = null, array $attributes = []): string

Description

Generates an HTML number input field with type="number". Provides built-in browser number validation and step controls.

Parameters

ParameterTypeDescription
$namestringThe name attribute for the input element.
$valuestring|int|float|null(optional) The numeric value for the input.
$attributesarray(optional) HTML attributes for the input element. Defaults to an empty array ([]).

Return Value

TypeDescription
stringAn HTML number input element.

Example #1: Basic Number Input

PHP
echo form_number('quantity', 5);

// Output:
// <input type="number" name="quantity" value="5">

Example #2: Number Input with Range and Step

PHP
$attributes = [
    'min' => '0',
    'max' => '100',
    'step' => '5'
];
echo form_number('percentage', 50, $attributes);

// Output:
// <input type="number" name="percentage" value="50" min="0" max="100" step="5">

Example #3: Decimal Number Input

PHP
$attributes = [
    'min' => '0.00',
    'max' => '1000.00',
    'step' => '0.01',
    'placeholder' => '0.00'
];
echo form_number('price', '', $attributes);

// Output:
// <input type="number" name="price" min="0.00" max="1000.00" step="0.01" placeholder="0.00">

Number Input Attributes Explained

Number inputs support specialized attributes that control validation and user interaction:

min and max

The min and max attributes define the allowable numeric range. Browsers prevent values outside this range:

HTML
<input type="number" min="1" max="10">  <!-- Only 1 through 10 allowed -->

step

The step attribute controls the increment/decrement values when using arrow keys or spinner buttons:

HTML
<input type="number" step="1">        <!-- Whole numbers only: 1, 2, 3 -->
<input type="number" step="0.5">      <!-- 0.5 increments: 1, 1.5, 2 -->
<input type="number" step="0.01">    <!-- Two decimal places -->
<input type="number" step="any">      <!-- Any decimal value allowed -->

The default step value is 1, which restricts input to whole numbers.

  • Use min and max attributes to restrict number ranges for better user experience.
  • For currency values, use step="0.01" to enforce two decimal places.
  • Use post('field_name', true, true) to automatically cast submitted values to integers or floats.
  • Always validate numbers server-side with PHP's filter_var($value, FILTER_VALIDATE_FLOAT) or is_numeric().
  • Remember that browser validation varies - some users may submit values outside allowed ranges.
  • Number inputs trigger numeric keyboards on mobile devices, improving data entry.