---
title: "Form configuration vs. form definition"
manual: "Form"
version: "main"
permalink: "https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/typo3/cms-form:concepts-formdefinition-vs-formconfiguration@main"
source: "I/Concepts/FormConfigurationFormDefinition/Index.rst"
rendered: "2026-09-19T16:47:20+00:00"
---

# Form configuration vs. form definition {#concepts-formdefinition-vs-formconfiguration}

Up to this point, we have mainly looked at form framework configuration.
In short, **form configuration** is based on *prototypes* and allows you to define:

-   which form elements, finishers, and validators are available to the system,
-   how they are pre-configured,
-   how they are displayed in the frontend and backend.

However, a second important part of the form framework is **form definition**,
which is configuration but for *specific* forms, for example the ones users define. Form
definition includes:

-   form elements and their validators,
-   the order of the form elements on the form
-   the finishers that are fired when the form is submitted
-   values of form element properties.

In other words, a `Text` form element would be defined in **form configuration**
but a `Text` form element located on page 1 at position 1 of a specific form
would be defined in a **form definition**. A **form definition** might also define
a placeholder (HTML attribute) with a value of "Your name
here" in a form element. Form definitions are created by the backend `form editor`.

## Example form definition (for a specific form) {#example-form-definition-for-a-specific-form}

```yaml
identifier: ext-form-simple-contact-form-example
label: 'Simple Contact Form'
prototype: standard
type: Form

finishers:
  -
    identifier: EmailToReceiver
    options:
      subject: 'Your message'
      recipients:
        your.company@example.com: 'Your Company name'
        ceo@example.com: 'CEO'
      senderAddress: '{email}'
      senderName: '{name}'

renderables:
  -
    identifier: page-1
    label: 'Contact Form'
    type: Page

    renderables:
      -
        identifier: name
        label: 'Name'
        type: Text
        properties:
          fluidAdditionalAttributes:
            placeholder: 'Name'
        defaultValue: ''
        validators:
          -
            identifier: NotEmpty
      -
        identifier: subject
        label: 'Subject'
        type: Text
        properties:
          fluidAdditionalAttributes:
            placeholder: 'Subject'
        defaultValue: ''
        validators:
          -
            identifier: NotEmpty
      -
        identifier: email
        label: 'Email'
        type: Text
        properties:
          fluidAdditionalAttributes:
            placeholder: 'Email address'
        defaultValue: ''
        validators:
          -
            identifier: NotEmpty
          -
            identifier: EmailAddress
      -
        identifier: message
        label: 'Message'
        type: Textarea
        properties:
          fluidAdditionalAttributes:
            placeholder: ''
        defaultValue: ''
        validators:
          -
            identifier: NotEmpty
      -
        identifier: hidden
        label: 'Hidden Field'
        type: Hidden
  -
    identifier: summarypage
    label: 'Summary page'
    type: SummaryPage
```