Syntax for GitHub's form schema

Note: GitHub's form schema is currently in public preview and subject to change.

About GitHub's form schema

You can use GitHub's form schema to configure forms for supported features. For more information, see "Configuring issue templates for your repository."

A form is a set of elements for requesting user input. You can configure a form by creating a YAML form definition, which is an array of form elements. Each form element is a set of key-value pairs that determine the type of the element, the properties of the element, and the constraints you want to apply to the element. For some keys, the value is another set of key-value pairs.

For example, the following form definition includes four form elements: a text area for providing the user's operating system, a dropdown menu for choosing the software version the user is running, a checkbox to acknowledge the Code of Conduct, and Markdown that thanks the user for completing the form.

YAML

- type: textarea
  attributes:
    label: Operating System
    description: What operating system are you using?
    placeholder: "Example: macOS Big Sur"
    value: operating system
  validations:
    required: true
- type: dropdown
  attributes:
    label: Version
    description: What version of our software are you running?
    multiple: false
    options:
      - 1.0.2 (Default)
      - 1.0.3 (Edge)
    default: 0
  validations:
    required: true
- type: checkboxes
  attributes:
    label: Code of Conduct
    description: The Code of Conduct helps create a safe space for everyone. We require
      that everyone agrees to it.
    options:
      - label: I agree to follow this project's [Code of Conduct](link/to/coc)
        required: true
- type: markdown
  attributes:
    value: "Thanks for completing our form!"

- type: textarea
  attributes:
    label: Operating System
    description: What operating system are you using?
    placeholder: "Example: macOS Big Sur"
    value: operating system
  validations:
    required: true
- type: dropdown
  attributes:
    label: Version
    description: What version of our software are you running?
    multiple: false
    options:
      - 1.0.2 (Default)
      - 1.0.3 (Edge)
    default: 0
  validations:
    required: true
- type: checkboxes
  attributes:
    label: Code of Conduct
    description: The Code of Conduct helps create a safe space for everyone. We require
      that everyone agrees to it.
    options:
      - label: I agree to follow this project's [Code of Conduct](link/to/coc)
        required: true
- type: markdown
  attributes:
    value: "Thanks for completing our form!"

Keys

For each form element, you can set the following keys.

Key	Description	Type	Valid values
`type`	The type of element that you want to define.	String	`checkboxes` `dropdown` `input` `markdown` `textarea`
`id`	The identifier for the element, except when `type` is set to `markdown`. Can only use alpha-numeric characters, `-`, and `_`. Must be unique in the form definition. If provided, the `id` is the canonical identifier for the field in URL query parameter prefills.	String
`attributes`	A set of key-value pairs that define the properties of the element.	Map
`validations`	A set of key-value pairs that set constraints on the element.	Map

You can choose from the following types of form elements. Each type has unique attributes and validations.

Type	Description
`markdown`	Markdown text that is displayed in the form to provide extra context to the user, but is not submitted.
`textarea`	A multi-line text field.
`input`	A single-line text field.
`dropdown`	A dropdown menu.
`checkboxes`	A set of checkboxes.

`markdown`

You can use a markdown element to display Markdown in your form that provides extra context to the user, but is not submitted.

Attributes for `markdown`

For the value of the attributes key, you can set the following keys.

Key	Description	Required	Type	Default	Valid values
`value`	The text that is rendered. Markdown formatting is supported.		String

Tips: YAML processing will treat the hash symbol as a comment. To insert Markdown headers, wrap your text in quotes.

For multi-line text, you can use the pipe operator.

Example of `markdown`

YAML

body:
- type: markdown
  attributes:
    value: "## Thank you for contributing to our project!"
- type: markdown
  attributes:
    value: |
      Thanks for taking the time to fill out this bug report.

body:
- type: markdown
  attributes:
    value: "## Thank you for contributing to our project!"
- type: markdown
  attributes:
    value: |
      Thanks for taking the time to fill out this bug report.

`textarea`

You can use a textarea element to add a multi-line text field to your form. Contributors can also attach files in textarea fields.

Attributes for `textarea`

For the value of the attributes key, you can set the following keys.

Key	Description	Type	Default	Valid values
`label`	A brief description of the expected user input, which is also displayed in the form.	String
`description`	A description of the text area to provide context or guidance, which is displayed in the form.	String	Empty String
`placeholder`	A semi-opaque placeholder that renders in the text area when empty.	String	Empty String
`value`	Text that is pre-filled in the text area.	String
`render`	If a value is provided, submitted text will be formatted into a codeblock. When this key is provided, the text area will not expand for file attachments or Markdown editing.	String		Languages known to GitHub. For more information, see the languages YAML file.

Validations for `textarea`

For the value of the validations key, you can set the following keys.

Key	Description	Required	Type	Default	Valid values
`required`	Prevents form submission until element is completed. Only for public repositories.		Boolean	false

Example of `textarea`

YAML

body:
- type: textarea
  id: repro
  attributes:
    label: Reproduction steps
    description: "How do you trigger this bug? Please walk us through it step by step."
    value: |
      1.
      2.
      3.
      ...
    render: bash
  validations:
    required: true

body:
- type: textarea
  id: repro
  attributes:
    label: Reproduction steps
    description: "How do you trigger this bug? Please walk us through it step by step."
    value: |
      1.
      2.
      3.
      ...
    render: bash
  validations:
    required: true

`input`

You can use an input element to add a single-line text field to your form.

Attributes for `input`

For the value of the attributes key, you can set the following keys.

Key	Description	Type	Default
`label`	A brief description of the expected user input, which is also displayed in the form.	String
`description`	A description of the field to provide context or guidance, which is displayed in the form.	String	Empty String
`placeholder`	A semi-transparent placeholder that renders in the field when empty.	String	Empty String
`value`	Text that is pre-filled in the field.	String

Validations for `input`

For the value of the validations key, you can set the following keys.

Key	Description	Required	Type	Default	Valid values
`required`	Prevents form submission until element is completed. Only for public repositories.		Boolean	false

Example of `input`

YAML

body:
- type: input
  id: prevalence
  attributes:
    label: Bug prevalence
    description: "How often do you or others encounter this bug?"
    placeholder: "Example: Whenever I visit the personal account page (1-2 times a week)"
  validations:
    required: true

body:
- type: input
  id: prevalence
  attributes:
    label: Bug prevalence
    description: "How often do you or others encounter this bug?"
    placeholder: "Example: Whenever I visit the personal account page (1-2 times a week)"
  validations:
    required: true

You can use a dropdown element to add a dropdown menu in your form.

For the value of the attributes key, you can set the following keys.

Key	Description	Type	Default
`label`	A brief description of the expected user input, which is displayed in the form.	String
`description`	A description of the dropdown to provide extra context or guidance, which is displayed in the form.	String	Empty String
`multiple`	Determines if the user can select more than one option.	Boolean	false
`options`	An array of options the user can choose from. Cannot be empty and all choices must be distinct.	String array
`default`	Index of the preselected option in the `options` array. When a default option is specified, you cannot include "None" or "n/a" as options.	Integer

For the value of the validations key, you can set the following keys.

Key	Description	Required	Type	Default	Valid values
`required`	Prevents form submission until element is completed. Only for public repositories.		Boolean	false

YAML

body:
- type: dropdown
  id: download
  attributes:
    label: How did you download the software?
    options:
      - Built from source
      - Homebrew
      - MacPorts
      - apt-get
    default: 0
  validations:
    required: true

body:
- type: dropdown
  id: download
  attributes:
    label: How did you download the software?
    options:
      - Built from source
      - Homebrew
      - MacPorts
      - apt-get
    default: 0
  validations:
    required: true

`checkboxes`

You can use the checkboxes element to add a set of checkboxes to your form.

Attributes for `checkboxes`

For the value of the attributes key, you can set the following keys.

Key	Description	Type	Default
`label`	A brief description of the expected user input, which is displayed in the form.	String
`description`	A description of the set of checkboxes, which is displayed in the form. Supports Markdown formatting.	String	Empty String
`options`	An array of checkboxes that the user can select. For syntax, see below.	Array

For each value in the options array, you can set the following keys.

Key	Description	Required	Type	Default	Options
`label`	The identifier for the option, which is displayed in the form. Markdown is supported for bold or italic text formatting, and hyperlinks.		String
`required`	Prevents form submission until element is completed. Only for public repositories.		Boolean	false

Validations for `checkboxes`

For the value of the validations key, you can set the following keys.

Key	Description	Required	Type	Default	Valid values
`required`	Prevents form submission until element is completed. Only for public repositories.		Boolean	false

Example of `checkboxes`

YAML

body:
- type: checkboxes
  id: operating-systems
  attributes:
    label: Which operating systems have you used?
    description: You may select more than one.
    options:
      - label: macOS
      - label: Windows
      - label: Linux

body:
- type: checkboxes
  id: operating-systems
  attributes:
    label: Which operating systems have you used?
    description: You may select more than one.
    options:
      - label: macOS
      - label: Windows
      - label: Linux

In this article

About GitHub's form schema

Keys

`markdown`

Attributes for `markdown`

Example of `markdown`

`textarea`

Attributes for `textarea`

Validations for `textarea`

Example of `textarea`

`input`

Attributes for `input`

Validations for `input`

Example of `input`

`checkboxes`

Attributes for `checkboxes`

Validations for `checkboxes`

Example of `checkboxes`

Further reading