When working with forms in JavaScript, you frequently need to detect when users provide or modify input. Two important events for this purpose are the input event and the change event. Understanding the differences between these can help you create interfaces that respond accurately to user actions.

The input event fires every time the value of an input, textarea, or contentEditable element changes. This means it triggers immediately as the user types, deletes, or pastes content, making it perfect for real-time feedback such as live validation or character counters.

The change event, on the other hand, fires only when an element loses focus and its value has changed. For text inputs and textareas, this means the event does not trigger with every keystroke, but only after the user finishes editing and clicks or tabs away. For checkboxes, radio buttons, and select elements, the change event fires as soon as the user selects a new value.

Use the input event when you want to update the UI instantly as the user types, such as showing a live preview or character count. Use the change event when you only care about the final value after editing is complete, such as validating a field before form submission.