Form

What Does Form Mean?

In a database context, a form is a window or screen that contains numerous fields, or spaces to enter data. Each field holds a field label so that any user who views the form gets an idea of its contents. A form is more user friendly than generating queries to create tables and insert data into fields.

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Techopedia Explains Form

Databases like SQL and Oracle do not use built-in forms, employing the query option for data creation and manipulation instead. This makes querying knowledge essential to handling these databases. Microsoft Access, however, uses forms for data entry, making it more user friendly than its counterparts. The fields and field labels are organized in a logical manner for easy form access and manipulation.

While making an entry into fields of a form, it is important to be careful about the field types, which are generally set when the form is created. As such, an attempt to enter values that do not satisfy the field constraints will fail. For instance, a field with a field type “not null” does not take null values and cannot be left blank. Some fields may also have table relationships connected by a foreign key; any alteration of such a field in a form needs special care.

Some online databases also have built-in form templates included in them. These databases can easily be used by users who are not even aware of scripting, as all entries and changes can be made in the form by a single click. A user is also free to customize the form layout by selecting suitable form templates.

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Margaret Rouse

Margaret Rouse is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical, business audience. Over the past twenty years her explanations have appeared on TechTarget websites and she's been cited as an authority in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine and Discovery Magazine.Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages. If you have a suggestion for a new definition or how to improve a technical explanation, please email Margaret or contact her…