Why is an input mask used for data entry?

Answer 1

An input mask is a way to enforce the use of a common pattern in data entry. It is used to prevent people from entering wrong or inconsistent data in a database field.

Phone numbers for example can always conform to the following format

+

In Microsoft Access the use of this pattern could be enforced by applying an input mask to this phone number field.

This input mask would prevent phone numbers like 5552937884 or 760293893.

A phone number like +31 71 783762829 would be allowed.

Input masks like these ensure the proper formatting of data. Properly formatted data gives you more options for selection, ordering and grouping. Phone numbers in an international format can be grouped and ordered by country code, for example. And you would be able to select phone number from a certain country and area. When you don't apply an input mask, such groupings and selections would not be possible, because there might be phone number with country and area codes and phone number without country and area codes.