Focus lost event
<html> <head> <title>Required Field</title> <script type="text/javascript"> window.onload=setupEvents; function setupEvents(evnt) { document.someForm.text2.onblur=checkRequired; } function checkRequired (evnt) { evnt = evnt ? evnt : window.event; var target = evnt.target ? evnt.target : evnt.srcElement; var txtInput = target.value; if (txtInput == null || txtInput == "") { document.write("value is required in field"); } } </script> </head> <body> <form name="someForm"> <input type="text" name="text1" /><br /> <input type="password" name="text2" /><br /> <input type="hidden" name="text3" value="hidden value" /> <textarea name="text4" cols=50 rows=10>The text area</textarea> <input type="submit" value="Submit" /> </form> </body> </html>