javascript name vs ID

Question

As far as I know there are two ways to get the value from a textbox either

document.formName.textboxName.value;

or

document.getElementbyId('textboxId').value;

As I understand using form name would mean I have less code to write, as name can be used for posting data and getting the value (apart from using ajax). As where if I was just posting using a standard form I would use name to post but I cannot use id ?

e.g. in php I would use

$_POST['texboxName']; 

If I where to have and ID on the textbox I cannot get the value using php ?

Which is the standard recommened way of doing this, and is using name browser friendly? Links if possible please, thanks.

Answer 1

The ultimate guide in this is the HTML specification.

Things that stand out there:

• id is valid for any HTML element, while name only applies to a select few (a, input, textarea and maybe a few others).
• An input (and textarea) element requires the name to be set if you want it to be submitted.