HTML Input: force numeric keyboard by default but allow letters

Question

I have an HTML input. The input is on the web page which is opened in Chrome on an Android phone.

I want an option to let the user to see a numeric keyboard when he starts entering the value. But at the same moment, I want him to have a possibility to enter alphanumeric characters.

• I cannot use type="number" because it doesn't allow entering letters.

• I cannot use type="text" because it opens alpha keyboard by default and a user have to switch to numeric keyboard.

So the option I'm trying to find is when the standard alpha-numeric keyboard got opened but the digits input is already selected (Like when you press ?123 on the standard keyboard).

I have tried to use type="tel" but I don't understand how to switch to letters from numbers.

I'm using Cordova, so if there's no option to do this using HTML I could use native plugins if you suggest me any of them.

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I use cordova so if there's no HTML way to do things I'm ready to integrate any sort of plugin, if you could suggest me anyone.

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TL;DR: This is what I want to see as a default keyboard layout. Is it possible?

Answer 1

You probably want to take a look at this: https://css-tricks.com/finger-friendly-numerical-inputs-with-inputmode/

<input inputmode="numeric" pattern="[0-9]*" type="text" name="creditcard">

The inputmode will work on the latest Android browsers, and the pattern is a hack for iOS. Pay special attention to the article where they talk about iOS not allowing the user to change keyboards.

Hope it helps.

Answer 2

Full solution to your problem using JavaScript.

The trick is to create a second number input, which you overlap on top of your text input using css.

<style type="text/css">
    /* hide number spinners on inputs */
    input::-webkit-outer-spin-button,
    input::-webkit-inner-spin-button {
        -webkit-appearance: none;
        margin: 0;
    }
    input[type=number] {
        -moz-appearance:textfield; /* Firefox */
    }
    .hidden-number {
        margin-top: -26px;
    }
</style>


<form method="post" action="submit.php">
    <input class="form-control" type="text" name="input_name">
    <input class="form-control hidden-number" type="number" id="input_name">
</form>

Using JavaScript, when your number input gains focus it will trigger the keyboard that you want. You will then have to remove the type='number' attribute, which would prevent you from entering anything other than numbers. Then transfer whatever content is in your text input to the number input. Lastly, when the number input loses focus, transfer its contents back to the text input and replace its type='number' attribute.

<script type="text/javascript">
    $(".hidden-number").on("focus", function(){
        $(this).removeAttr("type");
        var text_input = $("input[name="+this.id+"]");
        $(this).val(text_input.val());
        text_input.val("");
    });

    $(".hidden-number").on("focusout", function(){
        var text_input = $("input[name="+this.id+"]");
        text_input.val($(this).val());
        $(this).attr("type", "number");
    });
</script>