User researchers have exhaustively explored the pros and cons of having the submit button active throughout form entry versus validating each field before allowing the user to proceed, and only exposing the submit button when there is a valid value in every mandatory field. Opinions on this topic often depend on the specific context of use and user experience goals.

The designers/developers who promote the “Make the Submit Button Always Active” approach cite faster form completion, reduced user frustration, and flexibility as the benefits.  Delayed feedback and difficulty processing multiple errors concurrently are frequently identified as drawbacks.

In contrast, designers/developers who prefer validating each field before advancing find that the benefits are immediate feedback, improved accuracy, and clear guidance. Interruptions that disrupt the user flow and accessibility challenges are frequently identified as drawbacks to in-line field validation.

Why not both?

Modernly, the best practice is to include elements of both inline field validation and a continuously active submit button. In this approach, fields are validated individually, but the user is not prevented from advancing if an error occurs or a mandatory field is left blank.

This approach combines the best of both options without triggering the frustration users sometimes feel when they get stuck because they don’t understand what is blocking them. 

Best Practices for hybrid inline/active submit forms implementation

If you choose to implement a hybrid inline/active submit form, these are the high-level items you should focus on:

Clear and actionable error messaging

1. Follow plain language guidelines for your error text.

2. Error messages should be descriptive, but concise. At a minimum, they need to describe the issue and, when appropriate, provide suggestions for fixing it.

3. Move keyboard focus to the first field with an error.

4. Avoid passive error states. Actively support users in fixing issues through links, focus management, and contextual help.

5. List all the errors at the top of the form, with links that take users directly to the field with the invalid data. This list should only contain active errors.

6. When the error is resolved, clear it from the list. If the user had four errors to begin with and fixed one, the list should be updated to only contain the three remaining errors.

7. Trigger the error AFTER the user has left the field, not when they enter it. Being told a date is invalid when you enter the field and haven’t yet taken an action is useless, annoying, and visually and auditorily clutters the experience, distracting the user and causing them to lose focus.

8. Make sure system errors use ARIA-live so they get announced to users while filling out forms without receiving focus. That way, the user doesn’t miss errors going on elsewhere, unrelated to their input, while filling out the form.

Accessible validation indicators

All validation cues (like color changes or icons) must meet accessibility standards to accommodate disabled users. That means color cannot be used alone, color must meet contrast ratios, and icons should have alt-text.

Field content should never be erased, except for security reasons

Few things on the web are more frustrating than putting time and energy into filling out a form and having that data wiped out. This is especially true for people who use assistive technology, because it can take them three to five times longer to complete a form. The only time data should be deleted is for security reasons.

If a session expires, provide a clear message explaining why the data is gone and how the user can recover or re-enter it. Ensure your timeouts comply with WCAG 2.2.6.

Mobile-specific / Magnification Considerations

Design forms with mobile and magnification users in mind. On smaller screens:

• Ensure that error messages are close to their related fields and don’t require scrolling.

• Provide enough touch target space for error icons or corrective actions (WCAG 2.5.8 - AAA).

• Avoid fixed-position error banners (sometimes called sticky headers) that may interfere with the virtual keyboard or overlap input fields.

Progressive disclosure

Use progressive disclosure to keep forms streamlined by showing only the fields relevant to the user’s choices. If fields are hidden, remove them from the accessibility tree using aria-hidden="true" and ensure they are removed from the tab order. If those fields become visible again, they should be programmatically focusable in the correct location in the focus order and have clearly associated labels.

Form autosave

Whenever feasible, autosave form inputs locally using browser storage or backend sessions. This feature can protect against data loss caused by session timeouts or accidental browser refreshes. Be transparent about autosave behavior and provide clear messaging about what data is stored, for how long, and how to recover it. This may require GDPR or CCPA compliance review and cookie banners.

Final thoughts

Forms are among the most common ways people interact with digital systems. This makes them one of the easiest areas for accessibility and usability issues to occur. 20% of WCAG criteria are specifically related to forms and error messages. Designing forms that validate fields in real time while keeping the submit button active in a WCAG-compliant way balances flexibility with usability. It helps all users, especially those with different assistive technology needs. This approach also reduces the chance of cart or registration abandonment caused by frustration with unclear or overly strict data validation rules.

There is no single solution that fits all cases. Form design should reflect the content, context, and users it serves, while also gathering the information the organization needs to improve interaction with users. This includes respecting the time and effort it takes some users to complete forms and making sure those users aren't trapped by hidden obstacles, inaccessible fields, or poorly written error messages.

The best implementations adhere to both UX and accessibility best practices, test with people with disabilities, and evolve based on real user feedback, not just assumptions. If your form makes it easier for someone to complete a task without confusion or exclusion, then you’re doing it right.