What are the potential consequences of not specifying a target file in the action attribute of a form element?

If a target file is not specified in the action attribute of a form element, the form data will be submitted to the same page that contains the form. This can lead to confusion and potential security risks, as the form data might be processed in unintended ways or exposed to unauthorized users. To solve this issue, always specify a target file in the action attribute to ensure that the form data is submitted to the correct destination for processing.

<form action="process_form.php" method="post">
  <!-- form fields go here -->
</form>