[whatwg] [WF2] type=number and leading zeros

[Ian Hickson]

On Mon, 20 Mar 2006, Hallvord R M Steen wrote:
>
> Spec doesn't disallow submitting leading zeros for input type=number 
> values but I know a developer who apparently thinks it should.
> 
> Is it against the "idea" of input type="number" to send leading zeros if 
> the users type them?

The format the user uses to type the number (if he types it at all, as 
opposed to using a spinwheel, e.g.) is independent of the submission 
format. type="number" is a number, not a string; there is no semantic 
difference between 00000.0001 and 1e-4, and so the spec allows the UA to 
send any of those as it deems appropriate.


> Some pros and cons:
> - server parsers may interpret leading zeroes as octal values

Only if they are buggy. The spec lays out the exact format that is allowed 
to be submitted.


> on the other hand
> - if the field is for a post code, CC number, etc. leading zeros might
> be required

If the field is for a postcode or credit card number, then type=number is 
an inappropriate field type. Those aren't numbers, they're specially 
formatted strings.

-- 
Ian Hickson               U+1047E                )\._.,--....,'``.    fL
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