# Capturing data with forms
Online forms (HTML forms) allow users to fill out information on a website and can be used to capture a variety of data/information. In GovCMS, forms can be created in the following ways:
* Creation of **custom forms** (this requires development expertise and would be done by a development partner or in-house development team).
* Creation of a new **Webform** using the "Webform Module". This is the recommended option for content authors and the focus of this topic.
**Note** - Forms can also be created by creating a new *Content type*. However, this method is not recommended as it can lead to mixing public form submissions with site content. The GovCMS **Contact Module** can also be used to create a form, however functionality is limited using this method.
## Webform module/Content type
Webforms can be used to:
* Setup a complex **Contact us** form.
* Add a **survey** to your website.
* Include a **feedback form** on your site.
* Add an **order form** to your site.
Webforms can be configured to send emails to selected recipients when the form is submitted by a site visitor. Completed form submissions can also downloaded/exported in bulk from the site.
The *Webform* template is accessible from the content management area of GovCMS. To create a new *Webform*, click on *Structure* in the *Admin menu*, then hover over *Webforms* and click on **Forms**.
On this page you will see a list of all previously created *Webforms*. Click on the **+ Add webform** button at the top left to create a new *Webform*. See exercises [**11.1**](/govcms-content-administration/unit-11-capturing-data-with-forms/capturing-data-with-forms/exercise-11-1-create-a-basic-webform.md)**,** [**11.2**](/govcms-content-administration/unit-11-capturing-data-with-forms/webform-components/exercise-11-2-attach-a-form-to-a-webform-page.md) and [**11.3**](/govcms-content-administration/unit-11-capturing-data-with-forms/webform-components/exercise-11-3-create-an-event-registration-form.md) for the steps required to build a *Webform* and use it on a site page.
Showing the Webform interface and Add webform button
**Note:** In GovCMS, each *Webform* is an independent *entity*; to attach metadata to a *Webform*, it must be referenced from a *Webform* ***content type***. This approach allows for broader use-cases of webforms as independent entities and means they can be reused in multiple places.
## Webform results
You can view the webform results from the *Webform* page (if your account has the correct permissions) by clicking on the **Results** tab. Results can be viewed and downloaded in many different formats.
1. Open an existing Webform
2. Click on the **Results** tab
Showing the Results tab of an existing webform
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