Briefly discuss the role of the Submit (Push) button and a form handler in planning and creating a Web-based form.

What will be an ideal response?

A Submit button is also called a Push button. Your form must include a Submit button to indicate that the data entry is finished. When the visitor clicks the Submit button, the data is accepted and sent to the form handler.

A form handler can be as simple as sending all of the form data to an e-mail address, or more complex, such as the example in this chapter, where the form handler must interact with and add information to a database that is stored on the company's server. Without a form handler, you can create a wonderful form that has lots of important questions for your site visitors, but no way to get any information back from the form.

To obtain or create a form handler, you can download a scripted file or create your own. Most form handlers available for download contain simple instructions, such as to send form data to an e-mail address. You can create your own form handler or hire someone to create one that works specifically with your database. Many companies also have form handler services that you can sign up for, which can process the data and send a response, such as a confirmation e-mail, to the site visitor.