How to Create AMP Forms in WordPress (The Easy Way)

Introduction to AMP Forms and WordPress

Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) is an open-source HTML framework developed by Google, designed to provide a faster and more streamlined mobile web experience. AMP achieves this speed boost by restricting certain HTML, CSS, and JavaScript features, forcing developers to adhere to a specific set of guidelines. While AMP is primarily associated with content-heavy websites like news publications and blogs, it can also benefit sites that utilize forms, like contact forms, lead generation forms, and survey forms.

Traditional forms often rely heavily on JavaScript for validation, submission handling, and dynamic behavior. However, AMP’s restrictions on JavaScript can make implementing forms challenging. Fortunately, AMP provides its own form component (``) that allows you to create functional forms while adhering to AMP’s guidelines.

Integrating AMP forms into your WordPress website might seem daunting at first, but with the right tools and techniques, it’s quite achievable. This article will guide you through the process of creating and implementing AMP forms in WordPress the easy way, leveraging plugins and understanding the core principles.

Understanding the AMP Form Component

The `` component is the heart of AMP forms. It allows you to create forms that collect user input and submit it to a server endpoint. Before diving into the implementation, let’s understand its key attributes and functionalities.

* **`action`**: Specifies the URL where the form data will be submitted. This is typically a server-side script or API endpoint that processes the form data. This attribute is mandatory.
* **`method`**: Defines the HTTP method used to submit the form data. It can be either `GET` or `POST`. The default is `GET`.
* **`target`**: Determines how the form submission is handled. It can be `_blank` (opens the response in a new tab), `_top` (replaces the current top-level browsing context), or `_self` (replaces the current browsing context).
* **`enctype`**: Specifies the media type used to encode the form data when `method=”POST”`. Common values include `application/x-www-form-urlencoded` (default), `multipart/form-data` (for file uploads), and `text/plain`.
* **`on`**: This attribute allows you to specify actions that occur when specific events are triggered, such as form submission, validation, or error handling.
* **`custom-validation-reporting`**: If you want to implement custom validation using JavaScript (though highly discouraged in AMP), this attribute can be used to define the method for reporting validation errors.

Within the `` element, you’ll use standard HTML form elements like ``, ``, `<select>`, and `<button>`. However, there are a few AMP-specific considerations:</p> <p>* **`required` attribute**: You can use the standard `required` attribute for client-side validation. AMP will automatically handle the validation process.<br /> * **Input types**: Certain input types, like `email`, `url`, and `tel`, are supported and provide built-in validation.<br /> * **Dynamic behavior**: While direct JavaScript is limited, you can achieve some dynamic behavior using AMP’s `amp-bind` component and data binding.</p> <h2><span class="ez-toc-section" id="Choosing_the_Right_WordPress_AMP_Plugin"></span>Choosing the Right WordPress AMP Plugin<span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h2> <p>Implementing AMP in WordPress can be simplified significantly with the help of dedicated plugins. Several plugins are available, each with its own features and level of complexity. For creating AMP forms, you’ll want a plugin that provides robust form handling capabilities within the AMP framework. Here are a few popular options:</p> <p>* **Official AMP Plugin (by Google)**: This plugin is the official AMP plugin for WordPress and is developed by Google. While it primarily focuses on core AMP functionality and content optimization, it provides a solid foundation for building AMP pages and can be extended with other plugins or custom code to handle forms.<br /> * **AMP for WP – Accelerated Mobile Pages**: This plugin is a comprehensive AMP solution for WordPress, offering a wide range of features, including support for forms. It often includes integrations with popular form builders.<br /> * **Newspaper/Newsmag Theme**: Some premium WordPress themes, particularly those geared towards news and magazine sites, come with built-in AMP support, including form handling capabilities. Check the theme documentation to see if it supports AMP forms out of the box.</p> <p>For this guide, we’ll primarily focus on using the Official AMP Plugin combined with a separate form builder plugin that’s compatible with AMP. This approach offers a good balance between simplicity, flexibility, and control.</p> <h2><span class="ez-toc-section" id="Installing_and_Configuring_the_Official_AMP_Plugin"></span>Installing and Configuring the Official AMP Plugin<span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h2> <p>1. **Installation**: In your WordPress dashboard, navigate to “Plugins” -> “Add New.” Search for “AMP” and install the plugin developed by Google. Activate the plugin after installation.</p> <p>2. **Configuration**: After activating the plugin, navigate to “AMP” in your WordPress dashboard. The plugin offers different modes:<br /> * **Standard**: Serves AMP on all pages (requires theme support).<br /> * **Transitional**: Serves both AMP and non-AMP versions of your pages.<br /> * **Reader**: Serves AMP versions of your posts and pages on a separate `/amp` endpoint.</p> <p> For initial setup, the **Transitional** or **Reader** mode is generally recommended. This allows you to test and refine your AMP implementation without affecting the desktop version of your website.</p> <p>3. **Theme Compatibility**: The Official AMP plugin requires a compatible WordPress theme. Some themes offer built-in AMP support. If your theme doesn’t, the plugin may attempt to generate a basic AMP version, but you may need to customize the theme or use a compatible theme to achieve optimal results.</p> <h2><span class="ez-toc-section" id="Choosing_an_AMP-Compatible_Form_Builder"></span>Choosing an AMP-Compatible Form Builder<span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h2> <p>The Official AMP Plugin provides the basic AMP infrastructure, but you’ll likely need a separate form builder plugin to create and manage your forms efficiently. Ideally, the form builder should:</p> <p>* Generate AMP-compatible HTML for forms.<br /> * Handle form submissions and data processing.<br /> * Provide customization options for form design.<br /> * Integrate seamlessly with the Official AMP Plugin.</p> <p>Unfortunately, not all form builder plugins are inherently AMP-compatible. Some rely heavily on JavaScript, which can conflict with AMP’s restrictions. Here are a few strategies and considerations:</p> <p>* **Gravity Forms (with AMP Compatibility Add-ons):** Gravity Forms is a powerful and popular form builder, but it’s not AMP-compatible out of the box. You’ll need to find a compatible add-on or develop custom code to ensure that the forms are rendered correctly in AMP. These add-ons typically handle the conversion of Gravity Forms elements into AMP-compliant HTML.<br /> * **Contact Form 7 (with AMP Compatibility Plugins):** Similar to Gravity Forms, Contact Form 7 is a widely used form builder that requires additional plugins or code to work seamlessly with AMP. Look for plugins specifically designed to make Contact Form 7 forms AMP-compatible.<br /> * **Custom HTML Forms (AMP-compliant):** For maximum control and AMP compliance, you can create your forms directly using HTML and the `<amp-form>` component. This requires more technical knowledge but allows you to tailor the form precisely to AMP’s requirements.<br /> * **Typeform:** While not a traditional WordPress plugin, Typeform offers embeddable forms that can be integrated into your AMP pages. Ensure that the embedding process generates AMP-compatible code.</p> <p>For the sake of simplicity and ease of use, we’ll explore the approach of creating custom HTML forms directly using the `<amp-form>` component. This method gives you the most control over AMP compliance.</p> <h2><span class="ez-toc-section" id="Creating_an_AMP-Compatible_Form_Using_Custom_HTML"></span>Creating an AMP-Compatible Form Using Custom HTML<span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h2> <p>This approach involves manually crafting the HTML for your form, ensuring that it adheres to AMP’s specifications. While it requires more technical effort, it guarantees full AMP compliance.</p> <p>1. **Choose a Location for Your Form**: Determine where you want to embed your form within your WordPress website. This could be a specific post, page, or a custom template.</p> <p>2. **Edit the Page/Post**: Open the WordPress editor for the page or post where you want to insert the form. Switch to the “Text” editor (or “Code Editor” in Gutenberg).</p> <p>3. **Insert the AMP Form HTML**: Paste the following HTML code into the editor. Remember to replace the placeholders with your actual values:</p> <p>“`html</p> <form method="post" action="YOUR_SERVER_ENDPOINT" target="_blank" class="amp-form" id="myForm" on="submit-success:myForm.reset;submit-error:submit-error"></p> <fieldset> <legend>Contact Us</legend> <ul> <li> <label for="name">Name:</label><br /> <input type="text" id="name" name="name" required> </li> <li> <label for="email">Email:</label><br /> <input type="email" id="email" name="email" required> </li> <li> <label for="message">Message:</label><br /> <textarea id="message" name="message" required>

“`

* **`action` attribute**: Replace `YOUR_SERVER_ENDPOINT` with the URL of your server-side script that will process the form data. This script could be written in PHP, Python, or any other server-side language.
* **`target` attribute**: `_blank` opens the response in a new tab. You can adjust this based on your preference.
* **`on` attribute**: `submit-success:myForm.reset;submit-error:submit-error` handles the display of success and error messages after form submission.
* **`input type=”hidden”`**: The hidden input field `amp` with value `1` can be used to identify AMP form submissions on your server-side script.
* **Styling (CSS)**: You’ll need to add CSS to style the form elements. You can either add inline CSS (using the `

```

6. **Validating Your AMP Page**: After implementing the form and CSS, validate your AMP page using the AMP validator. You can access the validator through your browser's developer tools (right-click on the page and select "Inspect," then navigate to the "AMP" tab) or use the online AMP validator provided by Google. Address any validation errors before making the page live.

Testing and Troubleshooting Your AMP Form

* **Test Form Submission**: Ensure that the form submits data to your server-side script correctly. Verify that the data is being processed as expected.
* **Check Email Delivery**: If your form sends emails, verify that the emails are being delivered to the intended recipients and that the email content is accurate.
* **Monitor Error Logs**: Check your server's error logs for any PHP errors or other issues that might be related to the form submission process.
* **AMP Validation**: Regularly validate your AMP pages to ensure that they remain AMP-compliant.
* **Browser Compatibility**: Test your AMP form in different browsers to ensure that it functions correctly across different platforms.

Conclusion

Creating AMP forms in WordPress requires a slightly different approach compared to traditional web development. By understanding the principles of AMP and leveraging the `` component, you can create forms that are both functional and AMP-compliant. While using a dedicated AMP-compatible form builder plugin can simplify the process, manually crafting HTML forms provides the most control and guarantees full AMP compliance. Remember to thoroughly test and validate your AMP forms to ensure a smooth and reliable user experience.