# InputWidget

> InputWidget is the base class for widgets that collect user inputs.

[API reference](/docs/api/index.md) › [yii](/docs/api/yii/index.md) › [widgets](/docs/api/yii/widgets/index.md) › InputWidget

| class | `yii\widgets\InputWidget` |
| --- | --- |
| Extends | [`yii\base\Widget`](/docs/api/yii/base/widget/index.md) » [`yii\base\Component`](/docs/api/yii/base/component/index.md) » [`yii\base\BaseObject`](/docs/api/yii/base/baseobject/index.md) |
| Implements | [`yii\base\ViewContextInterface`](/docs/api/yii/base/viewcontextinterface/index.md), [`yii\base\Configurable`](/docs/api/yii/base/configurable/index.md) |
| Since | 2.0 |
| Source | [`framework/widgets/InputWidget.php`](https://github.com/yiisoft/yii2/blob/22.0/framework/widgets/InputWidget.php#L37) |

4 subclasses:

- [`yii\captcha\Captcha`](/docs/api/yii/captcha/captcha/index.md)
- [`MaskedInput`](/docs/api/yii/widgets/maskedinput/index.md)
- [`yii2\extensions\bootstrap6\InputWidget`](/docs/extensions/bootstrap6/reference/inputwidget/index.md)
- [`yii2\extensions\filepond\FilePond`](/docs/extensions/filepond/reference/filepond/index.md)

InputWidget is the base class for widgets that collect user inputs.

An input widget can be associated with a data [`$model`](/docs/api/yii/widgets/inputwidget/index.md#property-model) and an [`$attribute`](/docs/api/yii/widgets/inputwidget/index.md#property-attribute),
or a [`$name`](/docs/api/yii/widgets/inputwidget/index.md#property-name) and a [`$value`](/docs/api/yii/widgets/inputwidget/index.md#property-value). If the former, the name and the value will
be generated automatically (subclasses may call [`renderInputHtml()`](/docs/api/yii/widgets/inputwidget/index.md#method-renderInputHtml) to follow this behavior).

Classes extending from this widget can be used in an [ActiveForm](/docs/api/yii/widgets/activeform/index.md)
using the [widget()](/docs/api/yii/widgets/activefield/index.md#method-widget) method, for example like this:

```
<?= $form->field($model, 'from_date')->widget('WidgetClassName', [
    // configure additional widget properties here
]) ?>
```

For more details and usage information on InputWidget, see the [guide article on forms](/docs/guide/input-forms/index.md).

## Properties

| Property | Type | Description | Defined by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| <span id="property-attribute"></span>`$attribute` | `string\|null` | The model attribute that this widget is associated with. Default: `null`. | `InputWidget` |
| <span id="property-autoIdPrefix"></span>[`$autoIdPrefix`](/docs/api/yii/base/widget/index.md#property-autoIdPrefix) static | `string` | The prefix to the automatically generated widget IDs. Default: `'w'`. | [`yii\base\Widget`](/docs/api/yii/base/widget/index.md) |
| <span id="property-behaviors"></span>[`$behaviors`](/docs/api/yii/base/component/index.md#property-behaviors) read-only | `array<`[`yii\base\Behavior`](/docs/api/yii/base/behavior/index.md)`<static>>` | List of behaviors attached to this component. | [`yii\base\Component`](/docs/api/yii/base/component/index.md) |
| [`$field`](#property-field) | [`ActiveField`](/docs/api/yii/widgets/activefield/index.md) | Active input field, which triggers this widget rendering. Default: `null`. Available since 2.0.11. | `InputWidget` |
| <span id="property-id"></span>[`$id`](/docs/api/yii/base/widget/index.md#property-id) | `string` | Id of the widget. | [`yii\base\Widget`](/docs/api/yii/base/widget/index.md) |
| <span id="property-model"></span>`$model` | [`yii\base\Model`](/docs/api/yii/base/model/index.md)`\|null` | The data model that this widget is associated with. Default: `null`. | `InputWidget` |
| [`$name`](#property-name) | `string\|null` | The input name. Default: `null`. | `InputWidget` |
| <span id="property-options"></span>`$options` | `array` | The HTML attributes for the input tag. Default: `[]`. | `InputWidget` |
| <span id="property-value"></span>`$value` | `string` | The input value. Default: `null`. | `InputWidget` |
| <span id="property-view"></span>[`$view`](/docs/api/yii/base/widget/index.md#property-view) | [`yii\web\View`](/docs/api/yii/web/view/index.md) | The view object that can be used to render views or view files. | [`yii\base\Widget`](/docs/api/yii/base/widget/index.md) |
| <span id="property-viewPath"></span>[`$viewPath`](/docs/api/yii/base/widget/index.md#property-viewPath) read-only | `string` | The directory containing the view files for this widget. | [`yii\base\Widget`](/docs/api/yii/base/widget/index.md) |

## Methods

| Method | Description | Defined by |
| --- | --- | --- |
| <span id="method-__construct"></span>[`__construct()`](/docs/api/yii/base/baseobject/index.md#method-__construct) | Constructor. | [`yii\base\BaseObject`](/docs/api/yii/base/baseobject/index.md) |
| <span id="method-__call"></span>[`__call()`](/docs/api/yii/base/component/index.md#method-__call) | Calls the named method which is not a class method. | [`yii\base\Component`](/docs/api/yii/base/component/index.md) |
| <span id="method-__clone"></span>[`__clone()`](/docs/api/yii/base/component/index.md#method-__clone) | This method is called after the object is created by cloning an existing one. | [`yii\base\Component`](/docs/api/yii/base/component/index.md) |
| <span id="method-__get"></span>[`__get()`](/docs/api/yii/base/component/index.md#method-__get) | Returns the value of a component property. | [`yii\base\Component`](/docs/api/yii/base/component/index.md) |
| <span id="method-__isset"></span>[`__isset()`](/docs/api/yii/base/component/index.md#method-__isset) | Checks if a property is set, i.e. defined and not null. | [`yii\base\Component`](/docs/api/yii/base/component/index.md) |
| <span id="method-__set"></span>[`__set()`](/docs/api/yii/base/component/index.md#method-__set) | Sets the value of a component property. | [`yii\base\Component`](/docs/api/yii/base/component/index.md) |
| <span id="method-__unset"></span>[`__unset()`](/docs/api/yii/base/component/index.md#method-__unset) | Sets a component property to be null. | [`yii\base\Component`](/docs/api/yii/base/component/index.md) |
| <span id="method-afterRun"></span>[`afterRun()`](/docs/api/yii/base/widget/index.md#method-afterRun) | This method is invoked right after a widget is executed. | [`yii\base\Widget`](/docs/api/yii/base/widget/index.md) |
| <span id="method-attachBehavior"></span>[`attachBehavior()`](/docs/api/yii/base/component/index.md#method-attachBehavior) | Attaches a behavior to this component. | [`yii\base\Component`](/docs/api/yii/base/component/index.md) |
| <span id="method-attachBehaviors"></span>[`attachBehaviors()`](/docs/api/yii/base/component/index.md#method-attachBehaviors) | Attaches a list of behaviors to the component. | [`yii\base\Component`](/docs/api/yii/base/component/index.md) |
| <span id="method-beforeRun"></span>[`beforeRun()`](/docs/api/yii/base/widget/index.md#method-beforeRun) | This method is invoked right before the widget is executed. | [`yii\base\Widget`](/docs/api/yii/base/widget/index.md) |
| <span id="method-begin"></span>[`begin()`](/docs/api/yii/base/widget/index.md#method-begin) static | Begins a widget. | [`yii\base\Widget`](/docs/api/yii/base/widget/index.md) |
| <span id="method-behaviors"></span>[`behaviors()`](/docs/api/yii/base/component/index.md#method-behaviors) | Returns a list of behaviors that this component should behave as. | [`yii\base\Component`](/docs/api/yii/base/component/index.md) |
| <span id="method-canGetProperty"></span>[`canGetProperty()`](/docs/api/yii/base/component/index.md#method-canGetProperty) | Returns a value indicating whether a property can be read. | [`yii\base\Component`](/docs/api/yii/base/component/index.md) |
| <span id="method-canSetProperty"></span>[`canSetProperty()`](/docs/api/yii/base/component/index.md#method-canSetProperty) | Returns a value indicating whether a property can be set. | [`yii\base\Component`](/docs/api/yii/base/component/index.md) |
| <span id="method-className"></span>[`className()`](/docs/api/yii/base/baseobject/index.md#method-className) static | Returns the fully qualified name of this class. | [`yii\base\BaseObject`](/docs/api/yii/base/baseobject/index.md) |
| <span id="method-detachBehavior"></span>[`detachBehavior()`](/docs/api/yii/base/component/index.md#method-detachBehavior) | Detaches a behavior from the component. | [`yii\base\Component`](/docs/api/yii/base/component/index.md) |
| <span id="method-detachBehaviors"></span>[`detachBehaviors()`](/docs/api/yii/base/component/index.md#method-detachBehaviors) | Detaches all behaviors from the component. | [`yii\base\Component`](/docs/api/yii/base/component/index.md) |
| <span id="method-end"></span>[`end()`](/docs/api/yii/base/widget/index.md#method-end) static | Ends a widget. | [`yii\base\Widget`](/docs/api/yii/base/widget/index.md) |
| <span id="method-ensureBehaviors"></span>[`ensureBehaviors()`](/docs/api/yii/base/component/index.md#method-ensureBehaviors) | Makes sure that the behaviors declared in [`behaviors()`](/docs/api/yii/base/component/index.md#method-behaviors) are attached to this component. | [`yii\base\Component`](/docs/api/yii/base/component/index.md) |
| <span id="method-getBehavior"></span>[`getBehavior()`](/docs/api/yii/base/component/index.md#method-getBehavior) | Returns the named behavior object. | [`yii\base\Component`](/docs/api/yii/base/component/index.md) |
| <span id="method-getBehaviors"></span>[`getBehaviors()`](/docs/api/yii/base/component/index.md#method-getBehaviors) | Returns all behaviors attached to this component. | [`yii\base\Component`](/docs/api/yii/base/component/index.md) |
| <span id="method-getId"></span>[`getId()`](/docs/api/yii/base/widget/index.md#method-getId) | Returns the ID of the widget. | [`yii\base\Widget`](/docs/api/yii/base/widget/index.md) |
| <span id="method-getView"></span>[`getView()`](/docs/api/yii/base/widget/index.md#method-getView) | Returns the view object that can be used to render views or view files. | [`yii\base\Widget`](/docs/api/yii/base/widget/index.md) |
| <span id="method-getViewPath"></span>[`getViewPath()`](/docs/api/yii/base/widget/index.md#method-getViewPath) | Returns the directory containing the view files for this widget. | [`yii\base\Widget`](/docs/api/yii/base/widget/index.md) |
| <span id="method-hasEventHandlers"></span>[`hasEventHandlers()`](/docs/api/yii/base/component/index.md#method-hasEventHandlers) | Returns a value indicating whether there is any handler attached to the named event. | [`yii\base\Component`](/docs/api/yii/base/component/index.md) |
| <span id="method-hasMethod"></span>[`hasMethod()`](/docs/api/yii/base/component/index.md#method-hasMethod) | Returns a value indicating whether a method is defined. | [`yii\base\Component`](/docs/api/yii/base/component/index.md) |
| <span id="method-hasProperty"></span>[`hasProperty()`](/docs/api/yii/base/component/index.md#method-hasProperty) | Returns a value indicating whether a property is defined for this component. | [`yii\base\Component`](/docs/api/yii/base/component/index.md) |
| [`init()`](#method-init) | Initializes the widget. | `InputWidget` |
| <span id="method-off"></span>[`off()`](/docs/api/yii/base/component/index.md#method-off) | Detaches an existing event handler from this component. | [`yii\base\Component`](/docs/api/yii/base/component/index.md) |
| <span id="method-on"></span>[`on()`](/docs/api/yii/base/component/index.md#method-on) | Attaches an event handler to an event. | [`yii\base\Component`](/docs/api/yii/base/component/index.md) |
| <span id="method-render"></span>[`render()`](/docs/api/yii/base/widget/index.md#method-render) | Renders a view. | [`yii\base\Widget`](/docs/api/yii/base/widget/index.md) |
| <span id="method-renderFile"></span>[`renderFile()`](/docs/api/yii/base/widget/index.md#method-renderFile) | Renders a view file. | [`yii\base\Widget`](/docs/api/yii/base/widget/index.md) |
| <span id="method-run"></span>[`run()`](/docs/api/yii/base/widget/index.md#method-run) | Executes the widget. | [`yii\base\Widget`](/docs/api/yii/base/widget/index.md) |
| <span id="method-setId"></span>[`setId()`](/docs/api/yii/base/widget/index.md#method-setId) | Sets the ID of the widget. | [`yii\base\Widget`](/docs/api/yii/base/widget/index.md) |
| <span id="method-setView"></span>[`setView()`](/docs/api/yii/base/widget/index.md#method-setView) | Sets the view object to be used by this widget. | [`yii\base\Widget`](/docs/api/yii/base/widget/index.md) |
| <span id="method-trigger"></span>[`trigger()`](/docs/api/yii/base/component/index.md#method-trigger) | Triggers an event. | [`yii\base\Component`](/docs/api/yii/base/component/index.md) |
| <span id="method-widget"></span>[`widget()`](/docs/api/yii/base/widget/index.md#method-widget) static | Creates a widget instance and runs it. | [`yii\base\Widget`](/docs/api/yii/base/widget/index.md) |
| [`hasModel()`](#method-hasModel) protected |  | `InputWidget` |
| [`renderInputHtml()`](#method-renderInputHtml) protected | Render a HTML input tag. | `InputWidget` |

## Events

| Event | Type | Description | Defined by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| <span id="event-EVENT_INIT"></span>[`EVENT_INIT`](/docs/api/yii/base/widget/index.md#event-EVENT_INIT) | [`yii\base\Event`](/docs/api/yii/base/event/index.md) | An event that is triggered when the widget is initialized via [`init()`](/docs/api/yii/base/widget/index.md#method-init). Event name: `'init'`. Available since 2.0.11. | [`yii\base\Widget`](/docs/api/yii/base/widget/index.md) |
| <span id="event-EVENT_BEFORE_RUN"></span>[`EVENT_BEFORE_RUN`](/docs/api/yii/base/widget/index.md#event-EVENT_BEFORE_RUN) | [`yii\base\WidgetEvent`](/docs/api/yii/base/widgetevent/index.md) | An event raised right before executing a widget. Event name: `'beforeRun'`. Available since 2.0.11. | [`yii\base\Widget`](/docs/api/yii/base/widget/index.md) |
| <span id="event-EVENT_AFTER_RUN"></span>[`EVENT_AFTER_RUN`](/docs/api/yii/base/widget/index.md#event-EVENT_AFTER_RUN) | [`yii\base\WidgetEvent`](/docs/api/yii/base/widgetevent/index.md) | An event raised right after executing a widget. Event name: `'afterRun'`. Available since 2.0.11. | [`yii\base\Widget`](/docs/api/yii/base/widget/index.md) |

## Property details

### $field <span id="property-field"></span>

```php
public yii\widgets\ActiveField $field = null
```

Active input field, which triggers this widget rendering.

This field will be automatically filled up in case widget instance is created via [`ActiveField::widget()`](/docs/api/yii/widgets/activefield/index.md#method-widget).

**Since**

2.0.11

### $name <span id="property-name"></span>

```php
public string|null $name = null
```

The input name.

This must be set if [`$model`](/docs/api/yii/widgets/inputwidget/index.md#property-model) and [`$attribute`](/docs/api/yii/widgets/inputwidget/index.md#property-attribute) are not set.

## Method details

### init() <span id="method-init"></span>

```php
public function init(): mixed
```

Initializes the widget.

If you override this method, make sure you call the parent implementation first.

**Returns**

`mixed`

### hasModel() <span id="method-hasModel"></span>

```php
protected function hasModel(): bool
```

**Returns**

`bool`: Whether this widget is associated with a data model.

### renderInputHtml() <span id="method-renderInputHtml"></span>

```php
protected function renderInputHtml(string $type): string
```

Render a HTML input tag.

This will call [`Html::activeInput()`](/docs/api/yii/helpers/basehtml/index.md#method-activeInput) if the input widget is [tied to a model](/docs/api/yii/widgets/inputwidget/index.md#method-hasModel),
or [`Html::input()`](/docs/api/yii/helpers/basehtml/index.md#method-input) if not.

**Parameters**

| Parameter | Type | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `$type` | `string` | The type of the input to create. |

**Returns**

`string`: The HTML of the input field.

**Since**

2.0.13

**See also**

- [`Html::activeInput()`](/docs/api/yii/helpers/basehtml/index.md#method-activeInput)
- [`Html::input()`](/docs/api/yii/helpers/basehtml/index.md#method-input)