I have an html file with a form containing a submit button, and an anchor tag that is outside of the form. Is it possible to "simulate" the submit button from the anchor link?

In other words can a JavaScript function "call" submit for a form on the page?

I have an html file with a form containing a submit button, and an anchor tag that is outside of the form. Is it possible to "simulate" the submit button from the anchor link?

In other words can a JavaScript function "call" submit for a form on the page?

• javascript
• html

2 Answers 2

Sure you can use the submit() method to submit a form like this:

<a href="#" onclick="document.FormName.submit()">Submit Form</a>

Or

<a href="#" onclick="document.getElementById('formID').submit()">Submit Form</a>

To go unobstrusive, you can do this instead:

HTML:

You can give your link an id:

<a href="#" id="link">Submit Form</a>

Javascript:

<script type="text/javascript">
  var link = document.getElementById('link');

  link.onclick = function(){
    document.getElementById('formID').submit();
    return false;
  };
</script>

where formID is the id of the form.

Something like this might work... (Assuming that you give an id to your submit button.)

<a href="#" onclick="document.getElementById('theSubmitButton').click();return false;">Submit form</a>