Inline Form Error

An inline form error is feedback displayed beside or close to a field that needs attention. It can explain that an email address has an invalid format, a required field is empty, or a phone number needs correction. On a handyman quote form, showing an issue next to the affected field helps customers fix it without searching the whole page. An inline error differs from a form error summary, which gathers problems in one place. Errors should be described in words, not by color alone, and should be available to assistive technology. Validation and helpful recovery instructions make the message useful.