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Copy the HTML Form Action example below.
HTML · FORM ATTRIBUTE
HTML Form Action — where form data goes (live demo)
The action attribute on a <form> tells the browser where to send the submitted data — a server URL or a form-backend endpoint. Omit it and the form submits back to the current page. Below is a working form whose action points at a real, free backend.
- 500 free / mo
- No backend
- Copy-paste ready
Copy-paste ready
The HTML Form Action example below is a complete, working form — paste it into any HTML page and it submits, no edits to the markup required.
No backend to build
Your html form action form posts to one endpoint. No server, PHP, or API route — submissions land in your inbox and a searchable dashboard.
A form that really submits
Unlike a static reference snippet, this <form action> form actually sends data to a free splitforms backend, with spam filtering built in.
Copy-paste code
HTML Form Action code you can paste today.
Replace YOUR_ACCESS_KEY with a key from your free splitforms dashboard. The form posts to one endpoint — submissions land in your inbox and dashboard with spam filtering built in.
<form action="https://splitforms.com/api/submit" method="POST">
<input type="hidden" name="access_key" value="YOUR_ACCESS_KEY">
<label for="name">Name</label>
<input type="text" id="name" name="name" required>
<label for="email">Email</label>
<input type="email" id="email" name="email" required>
<!-- A submit button can override the form's action with formaction -->
<button type="submit">Send</button>
<button type="submit" formaction="https://splitforms.com/api/submit?list=beta">Send + join beta</button>
</form>How it works
How to add HTML Form Action to any page.
Copy the html form action example, drop in your free access key, and paste it into any page — submissions start landing in your dashboard.
Add your access key
Replace YOUR_ACCESS_KEY with a free splitforms key from the dashboard.
Paste into your site
Drop the form into any HTML page. Submissions arrive in your dashboard.
The <form action> element
Which HTML Form Action attributes matter?
The <form action> element takes a handful of attributes — these decide how your form behaves and what actually gets emailed to your inbox when someone submits.
- action (on <form>) — The URL the form submits to. Absolute (https://…) or relative (/submit). Omit it to submit to the current page URL.
- formaction (on a button) — Overrides the form's action for that one button — handy for multiple submit targets like 'Save' vs 'Save and publish'.
- relative URL — A path like /api/submit is resolved against the current page's origin.
- no action — If action is omitted entirely, the browser submits to the page's own URL (the document the form lives in).
Common mistakes
HTML Form Action not working? Here's why.
Most broken forms come down to a few small mistakes with the <form action> element. Check these before you ship — then forward every submission to Slack or a webhook.
- Use an absolute URL for cross-origin — For a static site posting to a hosted backend, use the full https:// URL. Relative paths only work when the backend runs on the same origin.
- Omit ≠ empty — action="" submits to the current URL on most browsers, but the spec treats an empty action like an omitted one. Be explicit to avoid cross-browser surprises.
- Avoid javascript: actions — Legacy forms used action="javascript:…". It's unreliable and a CSP headache. Run JavaScript from a submit event listener with preventDefault instead.
How SplitForms works
From form to workflow in 3 simple steps.
Connect your form, collect every submission, and send data where it needs to go — without building backend infrastructure.
Add your endpoint
Point your form to your unique SplitForms endpoint. That's it.
Receive submissions
We instantly capture and organize every submission in your inbox.
Route anywhere
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SplitForms works with the destinations you route to and the platforms you build on — from Slack and Sheets to WordPress, Shopify, and Next.js. And with Stripe connected, your forms can take payments too.
NewTake payments on your formsDeposits, bookings, order forms — submitters check out through Stripe and the money goes straight to your Stripe account. Included on every paid plan.See plans →Trusted by indie teams and agencies shipping forms worldwide
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“I replaced a Lambda + DynamoDB + SES contact form with six lines of HTML. It took eleven minutes, and the dashboard is better than what I was going to build.”
“We migrated 14 client sites off Formspree in a single weekend. The price is a third of what we paid, the API is more honest, and the spam filter actually works.”
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“The free plan gave me 200 submissions before I paid a cent, and Pro is five dollars a month. I've spent more on coffee deciding which backend to use.”
“Spam went from forty junk entries a day to zero, with no reCAPTCHA puzzle ruining the form. The honeypot and time-trap just quietly do their job.”
“Point the form action at one endpoint and you're done. No SDK, no client library, no build step. This is how a form backend should feel.”
“Leads land in Slack the second someone submits, and a copy goes to Google Sheets for the sales team. I wired both up in under ten minutes.”
“I run a static Hugo site on a five-dollar VPS. splitforms gave it a real contact form without me standing up a single server.”
Questions
HTML Form Action questions, answered.
View all FAQsWhat is the form action attribute in HTML?
The action attribute specifies the URL where the form's data is sent when it's submitted. Set it to a server endpoint or a form-backend URL like https://splitforms.com/api/submit.
What happens if I omit the action attribute?
The form submits to the URL of the page it's on. This is sometimes wanted (e.g. a search filtering the same page) but for most forms you should set action explicitly to a handling endpoint.
Can a submit button change the form action?
Yes — add formaction to a <button type="submit"> to override the <form>'s action for that button only. Useful for multiple targets like "Subscribe" vs "Subscribe + send receipt".
Should action be absolute or relative?
Use an absolute https:// URL when posting to a different origin (like a hosted form backend on a static site). A relative path is fine only if the handler lives on the same domain.
What does the action attribute in HTML forms specify?
It specifies the destination URL — the server or service that will receive and process the submitted form data.
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