# Forms ## What are Forms? At a fundamental level, a form is any structured request for data. In the Form.io Platform, forms are the fundamental user element. Forms collect, validate, and structure data. The same structure automatically defines a backend API to manage and access submitted data. ## Overview of Forms

			Cover image
Building Forms	Forms are built with a drag-and-drop Form Builder.	form-building	raceFormBuilder2.png
Types of Forms	Forms may be created as web forms, wizards, or fillable PDFs.	form-types	formcreation2.jpg
Form Lifecycle	The typical workflow of a form in the Form.io Platform.	form-lifecycle
Embedding a Form	How a form is used within an application.	embedding	embedurl.jpg
Form Settings	Configure and customize a form.	form-settings	settingtabs.jpg
Form Revisions	Track changes to a form.	form-revisions	forms revisionnote.png
Using Forms	How end users interact with a form.	submissions	formbuilding1.png
Form JSON	Understanding Form JSON	form-json

## **Form Lifecycle** The typical Form creation process and life cycle can look like the following: 1. Form Creation 2. Adding Form Components 3. Adding Actions 4. Setting Up Roles and Permissions 5. Managing Submission Data ## Form Builder in Action A live demo of the Form.io Form Builder is available at This provides a glimpse into how the Form.io Platform uses components to create a Form and the JSON schema that defines it. [**Click Here**](https://help.form.io/master/overview#forms-and-resources) for an in-depth explanation of how Forms and Resources work.

## Form Embedding Embedding places the live form in an application. This makes it accessible to the end user. The Form JSON is rendered by the form renderer, which is built into the application. As a result, embedded a form is as simple as providing the hosted Form JSON to the Form Renderer. For detailed information about embedding a form, refer to the [embedding](https://help.form.io/userguide/forms/embedding "mention")section of the Forms topic in the User Guide. ## Using A Form When a form is completed by the end user, it creates a Submission. This submission records the data entered into the form, as well as some metadata about the user submitting the form. For detailed information about submissions, refer to the [submissions](https://help.form.io/userguide/submissions "mention") section of the User Guide.