Do most people understand what * means when filling online forms

Do you feel that most people understand what * means when they see it near a form field without explanation or do you feel that its better to explain what * means at the start of a survey for example?

Like * Denotes a required field or * Indicates a required Field

 

It's allways a better way to explain what * sign means - at the start. Even expirienced users will know what is that.

 

Thanks, i will do that.

 

Or you can write beside every field which is required (required or something similar).

 

Depends on your target audience of course, but I always think it's best when designing anything to ask yourself: "could my gran use this?".

In case it wasn't obvious; I would include the explanation.

 

professional site is definitely give explanation what is * in the below forms.

 

Your gran surely knows what it means. The problem with the asterisk is you sometimes need to scroll down to find where the designer put the explanation. THAT is the problem, not the asterisk.

 

I think that might result in too much text, as its on a survey i want to avoid overwhelming the respondents.

I think too that im best off including the explanation.

I agree, good point.

Good point, all the more reason that i will have it placed once and right at the top and beginning of the survey.

 

Not that I think using an asterisk is a good idea in the first place. I don't.

 

What alternative would you suggest?

 

Most people understand that '*' means that the field is required to be filled in.
However, you may want to tell your visitors by using a simple line explaining it below the form.

 

Put (optional) by the optional items. Or,
Use javascript to validate their form and, if they don't fill something in, highlight it with a box saying so.

There are other examples but I just woke up and can't think but you don't need to flag something before hand.

 

Will probably leave out colour but asterix and bolding sounds good.

Ive placed a quick explanation right at the top of the survey.

Thanks for your tips drhowarddrfine

 

I think it depends on your niche, most of the users shouldd know what it stands for, but its alwayss a bonus to add what it means, just in case a not so experienced user comes to your site.

 

Experience as a user has nothing to do with it. It has been taught since gradeschool what it means, at least when I went to gradeschool and at least here in the US.

 

I think most people get it but better to put it, in the end or beginning at least
let say
1)_______________*
2)_______________*
*required field

 

I really can't understand why you'd leave out an explanation and then ask yourself "if users will know what * means" instead of just putting it in and having your brain rest at ease

 

In Form * means " Required Fields". It means it must have some related Value for that fields which have *..

 

Never trust site users to know anything. This is not belittling their intelligence, but just a matter of safety that someone who has opened a browser for the first time decided to visit your website