# NOOB: Numeric only input...can it be done on client? **URL:** \ **Category:** Rails\ **Created:** [January 17, 2006, 7:22pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/noob-numeric-only-input-can-it-be-done-on-client/62076 "2006-01-17T19:22:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![yankees26](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/y/eb9ed0/32.png) [@yankees26](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/yankees26)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 7:22pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/noob-numeric-only-input-can-it-be-done-on-client/62076/1 "2006-01-17T19:22:36Z")
I was wondering if there’s a way to limit what a user is typing on the keyboard to only valid numeric input. Is there a simple plugin or something which would allow this? I guess with AJAX it could also be one. Has anyone already solved this requirement? Thanks in advance. James ---
**Author:** ![yankees26](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/y/eb9ed0/32.png) [@yankees26](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/yankees26)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 7:31pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/noob-numeric-only-input-can-it-be-done-on-client/62076/2 "2006-01-17T19:31:38Z")
Javascript should get the job done. A quick google for “numeric entry only javascript” had this result… Might work well: [http://www.pbdr.com/vbtips/asp/JavaNumberValid.htm](http://www.pbdr.com/vbtips/asp/JavaNumberValid.htm) ---
**Author:** ![yankees26](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/y/eb9ed0/32.png) [@yankees26](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/yankees26)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 7:34pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/noob-numeric-only-input-can-it-be-done-on-client/62076/3 "2006-01-17T19:34:39Z")
Sure, and there’s no need to complicate it with a server call. A simple way to do it is to define a string of characters (in your case, numbers), then have each keystroke check that string for characters. Something like this would work: var numerals = “0123456789”; function checkInput(myField) { } ---
**Author:** ![yankees26](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/y/eb9ed0/32.png) [@yankees26](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/yankees26)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 7:34pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/noob-numeric-only-input-can-it-be-done-on-client/62076/4 "2006-01-17T19:34:40Z")
On 1/17/06, James R. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > I was wondering if there’s a way to limit what a user is typing on the > keyboard to only valid numeric input. Is there a simple plugin or something > which would allow this? I guess with AJAX it could also be one. Has anyone > already solved this requirement? Thanks in advance. Keep in mind that even if you get this to work in the browser, your server-side code should never trust this data to be in a valid format. You still need to do validation on the server. As for your question, it seems like this would be pretty easy with JavaScript and the onkeypress event handler. – James ---
**Author:** ![yankees26](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/y/eb9ed0/32.png) [@yankees26](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/yankees26)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 7:34pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/noob-numeric-only-input-can-it-be-done-on-client/62076/5 "2006-01-17T19:34:41Z")
Hah - oops, I hit “Enter” by accident. I was going to type in a function, but Googling for “Javascript restrict input” turns up a good example as is (although i’m not sure if it’s the most graceful): [http://www.felgall.com/jstip44.htm](http://www.felgall.com/jstip44.htm) - Jim ---
**Author:** ![yankees26](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/y/eb9ed0/32.png) [@yankees26](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/yankees26)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 8:01pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/noob-numeric-only-input-can-it-be-done-on-client/62076/6 "2006-01-17T20:01:49Z")
Thanks very much for all the helpful advice everyone. James * * * From: removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid [[mailto:removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid)] On Behalf Of Jim Campbell Sent: Tuesday, January 17, 2006 11:57 AM To: removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid Subject: Re: [Rails] NOOB: Numeric only input…can it be done on client? Hah - oops, I hit “Enter” by accident. I was going to type in a function, but Googling for “Javascript restrict input” turns up a good example as is (although i’m not sure if it’s the most graceful): [http://www.felgall.com/jstip44.htm](http://www.felgall.com/jstip44.htm) - Jim On 1/17/06, Jim Campbell \< removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid [mailto:removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) > wrote: Sure, and there’s no need to complicate it with a server call. A simple way to do it is to define a string of characters (in your case, numbers), then have each keystroke check that string for characters. Something like this would work: var numerals = “0123456789”; function checkInput(myField) { } On 1/17/06, James R. \< [mailto:removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid\> wrote: I was wondering if there’s a way to limit what a user is typing on the keyboard to only valid numeric input. Is there a simple plugin or something which would allow this? I guess with AJAX it could also be one. Has anyone already solved this requirement? Thanks in advance. James