Improving Forms If you've ever tried to work with web forms, you know what a headache they can be. Luckily, the authors of HTML5 are working hard to make sure that experience improves. We're all waiting patiently for browsers to support those nice new features, but in the meantime we have to build sites and turn out beautiful functioning forms. 12 In this chapter, you'll learn the following topics: Marking up a form with some of the new HTML5 attributes Placing the cursor in the first form field Using placeholder text in form fields Validating your site visitors' form entries Styling stubborn form elements such as file uploads and select drop downs