Custom registration forms - Rishan Solutions

Custom registration forms are essential for collecting user-specific data during sign-up processes on websites or applications. These forms are especially useful when the default registration forms (like name, email, and password) do not meet the business requirements. By tailoring the registration process, you can streamline user onboarding, capture necessary data, and enhance user experience.

Below is a detailed guide on how to create and implement custom registration forms.

Step 1: Define the Purpose and Requirements

Before you begin designing the form, it’s crucial to identify the goal. Ask yourself the following questions:

What kind of users will register?
What data is essential during registration?
Are there any conditional or optional fields?

Based on the purpose, create a list of fields required for your registration form. For example, for an e-learning platform, you might need: Full Name, Email, Password, Role (Student or Instructor), Phone Number, and Subject of Interest.

Step 2: Choose the Platform or Technology

Your approach will vary depending on your platform:

WordPress: Use plugins like User Registration or WPForms
Custom HTML/CSS with Backend (PHP, Node.js, etc.)
PowerApps: For Microsoft ecosystem
React/Angular with API integration

Choose the stack you’re comfortable with or best suits your project requirements.

Step 3: Create the Front-End Form

Here’s a simple HTML example of a custom registration form:

<form action="/register" method="POST">
  <label for="fullname">Full Name</label>
  <input type="text" id="fullname" name="fullname" required>

  <label for="email">Email</label>
  <input type="email" id="email" name="email" required>

  <label for="password">Password</label>
  <input type="password" id="password" name="password" required>

  <label for="role">Role</label>
  <select name="role" id="role" required>
    <option value="student">Student</option>
    <option value="instructor">Instructor</option>
  </select>

  <label for="phone">Phone Number</label>
  <input type="tel" id="phone" name="phone">

  <label for="subject">Subject of Interest</label>
  <input type="text" id="subject" name="subject">

  <input type="submit" value="Register">
</form>

This form collects user information with labeled fields, some required and some optional.

Step 4: Validate Form Inputs (Client Side)

Use JavaScript or frameworks like jQuery for client-side validation to prevent empty or incorrect data submissions. Here’s an example:

document.querySelector("form").addEventListener("submit", function(e) {
  let fullname = document.getElementById("fullname").value;
  if (fullname.trim() === "") {
    alert("Full name is required.");
    e.preventDefault();
  }
});

This ensures the user fills out necessary data before form submission.

Step 5: Set Up Backend to Handle Submission

Your backend must capture the data, store it in a database, and handle errors like duplicate emails.

Here’s a basic example using PHP:

if ($_SERVER["REQUEST_METHOD"] == "POST") {
    $fullname = $_POST['fullname'];
    $email = $_POST['email'];
    $password = password_hash($_POST['password'], PASSWORD_DEFAULT);
    $role = $_POST['role'];
    $phone = $_POST['phone'];
    $subject = $_POST['subject'];

    // Connect to database and store data
}

Make sure to sanitize and validate all input fields on the server side to prevent SQL injection and other security issues.

Step 6: Store Data in a Database

Design a table that fits your form structure. A sample MySQL table schema might look like this:

CREATE TABLE users (
  id INT AUTO_INCREMENT PRIMARY KEY,
  fullname VARCHAR(255),
  email VARCHAR(255) UNIQUE,
  password TEXT,
  role VARCHAR(50),
  phone VARCHAR(15),
  subject VARCHAR(100),
  created_at TIMESTAMP DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP
);

Use prepared statements to securely insert data into this table.

Step 7: Send Confirmation Email (Optional)

After registration, send an email to verify the user’s email address or to welcome them.

You can use services like:

SMTP (using PHPMailer or Nodemailer)
Mail APIs (like SendGrid, Mailgun, etc.)

This helps confirm authenticity and improves user engagement.

Step 8: Redirect or Show Confirmation Message

Once the user submits the form, redirect them to a confirmation page or show a success message on the same page.

Example in PHP:

echo "Registration successful. Please check your email to confirm.";

Or using JavaScript to redirect:

window.location.href = "/thank-you.html";

Step 9: Secure the Form

Security is vital. Implement the following:

CAPTCHA to prevent bots
CSRF Tokens to prevent Cross-Site Request Forgery
Password Hashing using bcrypt or Argon2
HTTPS to encrypt data in transit

Don’t leave your form and backend vulnerable to attacks.

Step 10: Make It Responsive and User-Friendly

Use CSS frameworks like Bootstrap or Tailwind to make the form mobile-friendly. Ensure clear labels, tooltips, and validation messages.

Example with Bootstrap classes:

<div class="form-group">
  <label for="email">Email address</label>
  <input type="email" class="form-control" id="email" placeholder="Enter email">
</div>

Make the layout clean and simple to avoid frustrating the user.

Step 11: Test the Registration Workflow

Test every part of the registration process:

Are all required fields working?
Is validation triggering properly?
Does the data reach the database?
Does the confirmation email work?
Is the layout responsive on different devices?

Use different test cases to ensure your form works under all conditions.

Step 12: Analytics and Feedback (Optional)

If needed, integrate tracking (Google Analytics or custom events) to monitor how users interact with your form. Feedback collection tools can also help improve the form’s effectiveness over time.