---
title: "Form field types, required fields and validation"
description: "Every field type in PDFBetter's form builder, how to make a field required or read-only, and the format checks for emails, phones, dates and numbers."
url: https://help.pdfbetter.com/forms/form-field-types-and-validation/
collection: "Forms & fillable PDFs"
section: "Building fillable forms"
updated: 2026-10-18
publisher: "PDFBetter (AI Generated Inc.)"
---

# Form field types, required fields and validation

> Pick a field type that matches the answer (Email, Date, Number, Phone…) and its format is checked as people type. Tick **Required** in **Field options** to stop the form being submitted or signed while the field is empty.

The field type decides what people can enter and how it's checked. A plain **Text** field accepts anything; an **Email** field rejects "jane@" with **Enter a valid email address.** Choosing the right type saves you from cleaning up answers later.

| Type | What it collects |
| --- | --- |
| **Signature**, **Initials** | The signer draws, types or uploads a signature or initials. |
| **Text**, **Name**, **Job title**, **Company** | Free text, single or multiple lines. |
| **Email** | An email address, validated. |
| **Date** | A date picker with a fixed output format you choose. |
| **Number**, **Age** | Numbers with optional min, max and decimals; Age is whole years. |
| **Amount (USD)**, **Amount (EUR)**, **Amount (JPY)** | Currency amounts; yen in whole units. |
| **Checkbox**, **Radio button**, **Dropdown**, **Gender** | On/off, one choice from a group, or one option from a list. |
| **Phone number**, **Postal code** | Checked for the country you choose, or any country. |
| **Phone (US)**, **ZIP code (US)**, **State (US)**, **SSN (US)**, **EIN (US)** | US formats, checked automatically. |
| **Image** | The person filling uploads a photo or image. |
| **Formula** | Calculated from other fields. |

## Make a field required

1. **Select the field**: In **Create form** mode, click the field. **Field options** opens on the right.
2. **Tick Required**: Under **Field**, turn on **Required**. It's flagged when empty and marked required in the downloaded PDF too.
3. **Add guidance**: Use **Help text** and **Placeholder** to show what a good answer looks like.

On a published form, respondents see how many required answers are left and can't submit until they're done. On a [signing page](https://help.pdfbetter.com/signing/what-signers-see/), a signer can't select **Finish** until their required fields are complete. Hidden fields never block submission (see [conditional logic](https://help.pdfbetter.com/forms/form-formulas-and-conditional-logic/)).

## Other rules you can set

- **Read-only**: shows its default value; people filling can't change it.
- **Max length** and **Multiple lines** for text.
- **Pattern**: a regular expression the whole value must match, for IDs like two letters and six digits. A mismatch shows **This value doesn't match the required format.**
- **Min**, **Max** and **Decimals** for numbers and amounts.
- **Date format**: for example MM/DD/YYYY (US), DD/MM/YYYY, YYYY-MM-DD (ISO) or DD.MM.YYYY.
- **Country format** for **Phone number** and **Postal code**. Numbers written with + and a country code are accepted from any country.
- **Default value**, and for dropdowns and radio groups, the list of **Options**.

### Do these checks work in Acrobat after I download the PDF?

**Required**, **Read-only** and **Max length** are saved as standard PDF field flags. PDFBetter's format checks (email, phone, pattern and so on) run in PDFBetter: in the editor, on published forms and on signing pages.

### What is the Database name?

The field's internal name, used as the column name in response exports and in formulas. It's created from the label; use letters, digits and _ and don't start with a digit.

### Can I change a field's type later?

Yes. **Change field type** in **Field options** keeps the name, position, rules and assignment.

## Related articles

- [Make a PDF fillable by adding form fields](https://help.pdfbetter.com/forms/make-pdf-fillable.md): Open the PDF, switch the top bar to Create form, pick a field type from Add fields and click or drag it onto the page. Set its options on the right, check it with Preview, then download with Keep fillable or publish it as a form.
- [Add calculated fields and conditional logic to a form](https://help.pdfbetter.com/forms/form-formulas-and-conditional-logic.md): Add a Formula field and type an expression such as qty * price or sum(items_*_amount) under Calculation. To hide a field until it's relevant, open its Visibility section, turn on Show only when… and add rules.
- [Publish a form as a fill link and collect responses](https://help.pdfbetter.com/forms/publish-form-fill-link.md): Build the fields, then choose Done → Publish as form, set the title and options, and select Publish form. You get a link, a QR code and embed code. Respondents don't need an account, and every submission is stored as data and as its own filled PDF.
- [Request signatures from other people](https://help.pdfbetter.com/signing/request-signatures.md): Open the document and switch to Invite to sign. Add each recipient's name, email and role, choose In order or All at once, place each person's fields, then choose Send, check the title, message, reminders and expiry, and select Send.

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Source: https://help.pdfbetter.com/forms/form-field-types-and-validation/ · PDFBetter Help Center · Last checked against the product 2026-10-18. Questions: support@pdfbetter.com