# Checkout Form Errors

> Show a checkout error beside the field or action that needs attention, in words the shopper can act on. Preserve all entered information and explain what happened after a failed submission.

- Type: Merchant guide
- Level: Intermediate
- Reading time: About 4 minutes
- Audience: Written for store owners, builders, and designers refining high-performance ecommerce stores.
- Last updated: 2026-11-04
- Canonical page: https://academy.getzenbasket.com/merchant-questions/checkout-form-errors/
- Part of: [Merchant Questions](https://academy.getzenbasket.com/merchant-questions/) on ZenBasket Academy

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## What you need to know

### When should validation show?

For simple format mistakes, validate after the field is completed or at submission. Do not show an error while a shopper is still typing a valid email or address.

### What does a useful message say?

"Enter a postal code for this delivery address" is clearer than "Invalid input." Move focus to the problem or provide an error summary so keyboard and screen-reader users can find the issue.

### What happens after submission fails?

Do not silently resubmit payment. Tell the customer whether an order was placed, keep safe non-payment details, and provide a retry or support path. Check actual payment status before advising another charge.

### A quick store check

Trigger one error at a time and then several together. Confirm focus, messages, preserved values and successful resubmission on a phone.

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## Frequently asked questions

### Should the form clear after an error?

No. Keep entered details unless security or payment-provider rules require a particular field to be re-entered.

### Where do I edit checkout error messages?

Use current checkout guidance for supported controls and reproduce the live error after publishing a change.

## Related articles

- **Address Entry and Validation**
- **Payment Choices and Failures**
- [ZenBasket Build Guide](https://help.getzenbasket.com/zenbasket-builder/)