# General error messages

## Overview

The shared error list is the area on a form that displays messages returned after
an unsuccessful request. This page covers the **Sign in**, **Sign up**, **Publish
Article**, and **Update Settings** forms.

| If you need to… | Go to |
| --- | --- |
| Find the form where an error appears | [Find the error surface](#find-the-error-surface) |
| Recognize the error area and its fields | [Recognize the error area](#recognize-the-error-area) |
| Decide what the message means | [Handle the error branches](#handle-the-error-branches) |
| Respond when a request fails | [When an error occurs](#when-an-error-occurs) |
| Correct and submit a sign-in request | [Sign in](doc:sign-in) |
| Create an account | [Sign up](doc:sign-up) |
| Create or edit an article | [Create and edit articles](doc:create-and-edit-articles) |
| Change account settings | [Manage your settings](doc:manage-your-settings) |
| Add a comment to an article | [Comment on articles](doc:comment-on-articles) |
| Find broader troubleshooting guidance | Common issues and solutions |

The Article screen's comment errors belong to the comment procedure rather than
to this page. Use [Comment on articles](doc:comment-on-articles) for that flow.

## Prerequisites

Before you submit a form, have the information for that form ready. The forms
covered here are listed in the procedure below. Know which task you are performing
before you open its form.

An error list is part of the form response. Its wording comes from the error
data returned for that request, so read the message that appears on the form.

## Find the error surface

Use this procedure when you need to locate the form that produced the error.

**Prerequisites**

- Know which task you were performing.

**Steps**

1. Open the form that matches your task.

   | If you were… | Open the form with… |
   | --- | --- |
   | Signing in | **Email**, **Password**, and **Sign in** |
   | Creating an account | **Username**, **Email**, **Password**, and **Sign up** |
   | Creating or editing an article | **Article Title**, **What's this article about?**, **Write your article (in markdown)**, **Enter tags**, and **Publish Article** |
   | Changing settings | **URL of profile picture**, **Username**, **Short bio about you**, **Email**, **New Password**, and **Update Settings** |

**Result:** The form for the task is on screen, with its fields and submission
control available.

## Recognize the error area

The error list is separate from the fields you use to enter information.

| Form | Fields around the error area |
| --- | --- |
| Sign-in form | **Email** and **Password** |
| Sign-up form | **Username**, **Email**, and **Password** |
| Article editor | **Article Title**, **What's this article about?**, **Write your article (in markdown)**, and **Enter tags** |
| Settings form | **URL of profile picture**, **Username**, **Short bio about you**, **Email**, and **New Password** |

When the form has error data, the error list appears. When it does not, the error
list remains absent. Review and correct the information in the fields before
submitting again.

## Handle the error branches

Use this procedure when an error list is present or when you need to check whether
one is present.

**Prerequisites**

- Have the affected form open.

**Steps**

1. Look for the error list on the form.
2. Read each message in the list.

   Each error-list item shows an error key followed by the value returned for that
   error.

3. If the error list is not present, continue with the form fields and the task
   procedure for the form you opened.

**Result:** You have either read the message shown for the failed request or
confirmed that no error list is displayed.

## When an error occurs

When a request fails, its response body is passed to the form. The form-specific
task page describes how to correct the request and submit it again.

| What you see | What it means | What to do |
| --- | --- | --- |
| An error list appears | The form received error data. | Read each item, then return to the fields named by the message. |
| No error list appears | The form has no error data to display. | Continue with the form-specific task. |
| An error-list item appears | The item combines an error key with the value returned for that error. | Use the displayed key and value to decide which field to review. |

## Continue after an error

Use the task page for the form you were completing. Select **Sign in**, **Sign up**,
**Publish Article**, or **Update Settings**, according to the form you are
correcting.

**Steps**

1. Return to the task page that matches the form:

   | Form | Task page |
   | --- | --- |
   | Sign-in form | [Sign in](doc:sign-in) |
   | Sign-up form | [Sign up](doc:sign-up) |
   | Article editor | [Create and edit articles](doc:create-and-edit-articles) |
   | Settings form | [Manage your settings](doc:manage-your-settings) |

2. Select the affected field and enter the corrected value.
3. Select the control for the form you are correcting.

   | Form | Select |
   | --- | --- |
   | Sign-in form | **Sign in** |
   | Sign-up form | **Sign up** |
   | Article editor | **Publish Article** |
   | Settings form | **Update Settings** |

**Result:** The corrected request is submitted from the task form.