<input type="checkbox">a<br> <input type="checkbox">b<br> <input type="checkbox">c <input type="checkbox">a<br> <input type="checkbox" checked>b<br> <input type="checkbox" checked>c <input type="checkbox" id="x">x<br> <input type="checkbox" id="y">y<br> <input type="button" value="reveal" onclick="alert(x.checked+':'+y.checked)"> <form name="g"> <input type="checkbox" id="x">x<br> <input type="checkbox" id="y">y<br> <input type="checkbox" id="z">z<br> <input type="button" value="see all" onclick=" L=g.elements; for (i=1;i<L.length;i++) alert(L[i-1].checked); "> </form>