The integer question type collects whole numbers (no decimal places). It triggers a numeric keyboard on mobile and blocks decimal point entry. It supports the same appearance options as the text type for layout and formatting.

Basic XLSForm Specification

For the standard specification see the XLSForm documentation (opens in a new tab).

Appearance options

number-hspinner — horizontal spinner

Replaces the input with a horizontal − value + spinner. Tapping minus/plus decrements or increments the value by 1 (or a custom step).

number-hspinner

Customize button shape and step using hspinner():

number-hspinner hspinner('left-small-square','right-small-square','5')

Parameters: left button shape, right button shape, step value (defaults to 1 for integer).

Custom colors using colors():

number-hspinner colors(0099FF,FFFFFF,FF5500,FFFFFF)

Four values in order: left-button background, left-button icon, right-button background, right-button icon.

thousandsep — thousands separator

Formats the displayed number with comma grouping (e.g. 1,234,567). The raw number is stored without commas. Input type is switched to "text" to allow the formatted display.

thousandsep

digisep(n, "sep") — custom digit grouping

Groups digits into blocks of n separated by a custom separator. Useful for formatted IDs or reference codes that are numeric.

digisep(4,"-")      → 0912-3456-789
digisep(3," ")      → 012 345 678

Input type is switched to "text" when this appearance is active.

textonly — force text keyboard

Forces type="text" on the input element. This prevents browser number-input quirks (such as hiding leading zeros or adding spin arrows in desktop browsers) while still collecting a numeric value.

textonly

floating_hint — hint floats as label

The hint text renders inside the input as a placeholder. When the user starts typing, it floats above the field as a label.

floating_hint

embed — hint inside input boundary

Similar to floating_hint — the hint sits inside the input boundary when empty. It does not float when the user types.

embed

textpopup — modal dialog input

Tapping the field opens a modal dialog with a larger input instead of editing inline. Useful on small screens where a full-screen input is easier.

textpopup

charcount — live character counter

Displays a live (n) character count below the input, updated as the user types.

charcount

prefix(expr) — prepend a prefix

Prepends a static or calculated string to the displayed value. The stored value does not include the prefix.

prefix('Item #')        → displays "Item #42", stores "42"
prefix(${code_prefix})  → dynamic prefix from another field

align_answer — input text alignment

Controls the horizontal alignment of the typed value inside the input.

align_answer = left
align_answer = right
align_answer = center

inputs{qrscan} — QR / barcode scan into field

Adds a QR code scan button next to the input. Opens the camera scanner and populates the field with the scanned numeric value.

inputs{qrscan}

Appearance quick reference

Constraints and validation

Use constraints to enforce value ranges. Constraints in the constraint column are evaluated after every button press in number-hspinner mode, not just on blur.

Example — household survey

Best Practices

1. Use number-hspinner for small-range counts where clicking ± is faster than typing (e.g. number of children, score on a 1–10 scale).
2. Use thousandsep when displaying large integers (population, income) so respondents can self-check the magnitude.
3. Use textonly when browsers add unwanted number-input UI (spin arrows, touch scroll) that confuses respondents.
4. Enforce range constraints rather than relying on mobile keyboard type — keyboard enforcement is not universal.

Limitations

• Decimal point input is blocked — if you need fractional values, use the decimal type.
• number-hspinner validates the constraint on every button press — avoid expensive constraints (e.g. complex if() chains) in spinner mode.
• thousandsep and digisep() store the raw number without formatting — do not rely on the formatted display value in calculations.