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@val : The Output Value Attribute

The val attribute specifies the value of an HTML <output> element. It provides an alternative to placing the output value as text content between the opening and closing tags.

Usage

The val attribute is used to:

  • Set the output value of an <output> element
  • Provide structured value data separate from display content
  • Enable data binding for output values
  • Support programmatic value assignment
<!-- Value as attribute -->
<output for="quantity price" val="$149.95" />

<!-- Value as content (alternative) -->
<output for="quantity price">$149.95</output>

Supported Elements

The val attribute is supported by the following element:

Element Description
<output> Represents the result of a calculation or user action

Attribute Values

Syntax 

<output val="value">Optional display content</output>

Value Type

Type Description Example
String Any text value val="Result"
Number Numeric value (as string) val="42.5"
Formatted Formatted display value val="$1,234.56"
Expression Data-bound expression val=""

Binding Values

The val attribute fully supports data binding:

Static Value 

<output for="a b" val="30" />

Dynamic Value with Data Binding 

<!-- Model: { totalAmount: 542.75 } -->
<output for="subtotal tax" val="" />

Calculated Value 

<!-- Model: { quantity: 5, price: 29.99 } -->
<output for="quantity price" val="" />

Formatted Value 

<!-- Model: { total: 1234.56 } -->
<output for="items" val="$" />

Notes

Value vs Content

You can specify the output value in two ways:

Using val attribute:

<output val="Total: $100.00" />

Using element content:

<output>Total: $100.00</output>

Both together (attribute takes precedence):

<!-- The val attribute value is used, content is ignored -->
<output val="$100.00">This is ignored</output>

When to Use val Attribute

Use the val attribute when:

  • You need a self-closing output element
  • The value comes from data binding
  • You want to separate value from display markup
  • You need programmatic value access

Use element content when:

  • You need rich HTML content inside the output
  • The display includes formatting or nested elements
  • You prefer explicit visible content

PDF Generation Behavior

In Scryber PDF generation:

  • The val attribute renders as text in the PDF
  • Output elements are non-interactive (static text)
  • Both val attribute and element content render identically
  • If both are present, val takes precedence

Empty Values

An empty or missing val attribute results in an empty output:

<!-- Empty output -->
<output val="" />

<!-- Also empty -->
<output></output>

Examples

Example 1: Basic Output Value 

<form id="calculator">
    <input type="number" id="num1" name="num1" value="10" />
    <input type="number" id="num2" name="num2" value="20" />
</form>

<output for="num1 num2" val="30" />

Example 2: Formatted Currency Output 

<form id="orderForm">
    <input type="number" id="quantity" value="5" />
    <input type="number" id="price" value="29.99" />
</form>

<output for="quantity price" name="total" val="$149.95" />

Example 3: Data-Bound Output 

<!-- Model: { subtotal: 500, taxRate: 0.08, total: 540 } -->

<form id="invoice">
    <input type="number" name="subtotal" value="" />
</form>

<div>
    <output for="subtotal" val="Subtotal: $" /><br/>
    <output for="subtotal" val="Tax: $" /><br/>
    <output for="subtotal" val="Total: $" />
</div>

Example 4: Calculation Results 

<h2>Loan Calculator Results</h2>

<form id="loanCalc">
    <input type="number" id="principal" value="50000" />
    <input type="number" id="rate" value="5.5" />
    <input type="number" id="term" value="15" />
</form>

<table border="1" cellpadding="10" style="width: 100%;">
    <tr>
        <td>Monthly Payment:</td>
        <td><output for="principal rate term" val="$407.39" /></td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
        <td>Total Interest:</td>
        <td><output for="principal rate term" val="$23,330.20" /></td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
        <td>Total Amount:</td>
        <td><output for="principal rate term" val="$73,330.20" /></td>
    </tr>
</table>

Example 5: Multiple Outputs with Different Values 

<form id="stats">
    <input type="number" id="score1" value="85" />
    <input type="number" id="score2" value="92" />
    <input type="number" id="score3" value="78" />
</form>

<h3>Statistics</h3>
<p>
    Sum: <output for="score1 score2 score3" val="255" /><br/>
    Average: <output for="score1 score2 score3" val="85.0" /><br/>
    Highest: <output for="score1 score2 score3" val="92" /><br/>
    Lowest: <output for="score1 score2 score3" val="78" />
</p>

Example 6: Rich Content vs Simple Value 

<!-- Simple value with val attribute -->
<output for="total" val="$1,234.56" />

<!-- Rich content without val attribute -->
<output for="total">
    <strong style="color: #336699; font-size: 14pt;">$1,234.56</strong>
</output>

<!-- Styled output container with val -->
<output for="total" val="$1,234.56"
        style="display: block; padding: 10pt; background-color: #e3f2fd;
               font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold; color: #336699;" />

Example 7: Shopping Cart Total 

<form id="cart">
    <table border="1" cellpadding="8" style="width: 100%;">
        <tr>
            <td>Product A</td>
            <td><input type="number" id="qtyA" value="2" /></td>
            <td>$50.00</td>
            <td><output val="$100.00" /></td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td>Product B</td>
            <td><input type="number" id="qtyB" value="1" /></td>
            <td>$75.00</td>
            <td><output val="$75.00" /></td>
        </tr>
        <tr style="font-weight: bold;">
            <td colspan="3" style="text-align: right;">Total:</td>
            <td><output for="qtyA qtyB" val="$175.00" /></td>
        </tr>
    </table>
</form>

Example 8: Dynamic Value Calculation 

<!-- Model: { items: [
    {name: "Widget", qty: 10, price: 25},
    {name: "Gadget", qty: 5, price: 50}
]} -->

<h2>Order Summary</h2>

<template data-bind="">
    <div style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
        : <output val=" × $ = $" />
    </div>
</template>

<div style="font-weight: bold; margin-top: 15pt; padding-top: 10pt; border-top: 2pt solid black;">
    Grand Total: <output val="$" />
</div>

Example 9: Report with Calculated Percentages 

<h2>Sales Performance Report</h2>

<form id="salesData">
    <input type="number" id="target" value="100000" />
    <input type="number" id="actual" value="125000" />
</form>

<table border="1" cellpadding="10" style="width: 100%;">
    <tr>
        <td>Sales Target:</td>
        <td><output for="target" val="$100,000" /></td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
        <td>Actual Sales:</td>
        <td><output for="actual" val="$125,000" /></td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
        <td>Difference:</td>
        <td><output for="target actual" val="$25,000" /></td>
    </tr>
    <tr style="background-color: #d4edda;">
        <td><strong>Performance:</strong></td>
        <td><output for="target actual" val="125% of target" /></td>
    </tr>
</table>

Example 10: Invoice with Line Items 

<!-- Model: { lineItems: [
    {desc: "Consulting", qty: 40, rate: 150, total: 6000},
    {desc: "Development", qty: 80, rate: 120, total: 9600}
], subtotal: 15600, tax: 1248, grandTotal: 16848} -->

<h1>Invoice</h1>

<table border="1" cellpadding="10" style="width: 100%;">
    <thead>
        <tr style="background-color: #336699; color: white;">
            <th>Description</th>
            <th>Qty</th>
            <th>Rate</th>
            <th>Amount</th>
        </tr>
    </thead>
    <tbody>
        <template data-bind="">
            <tr>
                <td></td>
                <td></td>
                <td>$</td>
                <td><output val="$" /></td>
            </tr>
        </template>
    </tbody>
    <tfoot>
        <tr>
            <td colspan="3" style="text-align: right;"><strong>Subtotal:</strong></td>
            <td><output val="$" /></td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td colspan="3" style="text-align: right;"><strong>Tax (8%):</strong></td>
            <td><output val="$" /></td>
        </tr>
        <tr style="background-color: #e3f2fd; font-weight: bold; font-size: 12pt;">
            <td colspan="3" style="text-align: right;">TOTAL:</td>
            <td><output val="$" /></td>
        </tr>
    </tfoot>
</table>

Example 11: Grade Calculator 

<form id="grades">
    <h2>Course Grades</h2>
    <label>Homework: <input type="number" id="homework" value="85" /> (20%)</label><br/>
    <label>Midterm: <input type="number" id="midterm" value="78" /> (30%)</label><br/>
    <label>Final: <input type="number" id="final" value="92" /> (50%)</label>
</form>

<div style="margin-top: 20pt; padding: 15pt; background-color: #f0f0f0;">
    <h3>Final Grade Calculation</h3>
    <p>
        Homework contribution: <output for="homework" val="17.0 points" /><br/>
        Midterm contribution: <output for="midterm" val="23.4 points" /><br/>
        Final contribution: <output for="final" val="46.0 points" />
    </p>
    <p style="font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold; color: #336699;">
        Final Grade: <output for="homework midterm final" val="86.4 (B)" />
    </p>
</div>

Example 12: BMI Calculator 

<form id="bmiCalc">
    <label>Weight (lbs): <input type="number" id="weight" value="180" /></label><br/>
    <label>Height (inches): <input type="number" id="height" value="70" /></label>
</form>

<div style="margin-top: 20pt;">
    <h3>Results</h3>
    <table border="0" cellpadding="8">
        <tr>
            <td>Body Mass Index (BMI):</td>
            <td><output for="weight height" val="25.8" /></td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td>Category:</td>
            <td><output for="weight height" val="Overweight" /></td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td>Healthy Range:</td>
            <td><output val="18.5 - 24.9" /></td>
        </tr>
    </table>
</div>

Example 13: Time Duration Calculator 

<form id="timeCalc">
    <label>Start: <input type="time" id="start" value="09:00" /></label><br/>
    <label>End: <input type="time" id="end" value="17:30" /></label>
</form>

<div style="margin-top: 15pt;">
    <h3>Duration</h3>
    <p>
        Total hours: <output for="start end" val="8.5 hours" /><br/>
        Total minutes: <output for="start end" val="510 minutes" /><br/>
        Work day: <output for="start end" val="Full day (8+ hours)" />
    </p>
</div>

Example 14: Temperature Converter 

<form id="tempConvert">
    <label>Celsius: <input type="number" id="celsius" value="25" /></label>
</form>

<div style="margin-top: 15pt;">
    <h3>Conversions</h3>
    <table border="1" cellpadding="10">
        <tr>
            <td>Fahrenheit:</td>
            <td><output for="celsius" val="77.0°F" /></td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td>Kelvin:</td>
            <td><output for="celsius" val="298.15 K" /></td>
        </tr>
    </table>
</div>

Example 15: Conditional Output Values 

<!-- Model: { score: 95, passed: true } -->

<form id="examResults">
    <input type="number" id="score" name="score" value="" />
</form>

<div style="padding: 20pt; ">
    <h2>Exam Results</h2>

    <p>
        Your Score: <output for="score" val="/100" /><br/>
        Status: <output for="score" val="" /><br/>
        Grade: <output for="score" val="" />
    </p>
</div>

See Also