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Smashing Magazine recently did a survey of current web form design patterns. They researched the top 100 popular web-sites and how they build web forms.

Basically the conclusion from both articles outlines the following:

• the registration link is titled “sign up” (40%) and placed in the right upper corner
• sign-up forms have a simplified layout to avoid distractions for users (61%)
• sign-up forms are one-page-forms (93%)
• sign up forms attract visitors by explaining the benefits of registration (41%)
• titles of the input fields are highlighted bold (62%)
• no trend in the label alignment can be identified
• designers tend to use few mandatory fields
• designers tend to use few optional fields
• vertically arranged fields are preferred to horizontally arranged fields (86%)
• sign-up forms don’t have any hover, active or focus-effects (84%)
• hints and help are either static (57%) or dynamic (33%) and appear below the input field (57%) or on the right side of the field (26%)
• static validation is as popular as dynamic validation — no trend toward Ajax;
• e-mail confirmation is not used (82%)
• password confirmation is used (72%)
• captcha can be used or not used (48% vs. 52%)
• cancel button is not used (92%)
• the submit-button is left-aligned (56%) or centered (26%)
• thank-you message motivates users to proceed with exploring the services of the site (45%)

Check out Web Form Design Patterns: Sign-Up Forms Part 1 and Web Form Design Patterns: Sign-Up Forms Part 2.