As a rule I will always ask google before asking any human anything. About.com has (some) good authors like this one...

HTML Forms - Your First HTML Form

My advice is to find an easy to "understand-html-in-10-easy-lessons" type of guide so you can understand the fundamentals before you start playing with forms.

Best way to get a form is to let your auto responder create it for you and then just paste into your page or sidebar widget.

Google is a great place to find what you are looking for but look for something specific like for example a secure php mail form for example. The reason is because you don't want it to be just any php form.

Sure, that might take some extra time. I didn't have much to go on so I thought I'd do a simple google search to see what I could find.

Looking to make HTML/PHP forms myself.
The problem with Google is they don't always give you the whole puzzle. Many sites, for instance, will have the HTML syntax spelled out in blood, but neglect information on how to send your form to a server or email address.
I'm also looking for code that will validate fields like email addresses so spammers will steer clear. Any suggestions?

"The problem with Google is they don't always give you the whole puzzle"

Not really the case, it's more of a "People do not know the proper things to ask/look for."

Quick Googles:

how to create php form validations - Google Search

easy php form script - Google Search

php form examples - Google Search

Don't forget about Youtube, they have some decent tuts there as well.

Regards,
FBM.

Here's a tutorial: HTML Forms and Input

There are also online form generators, just Google it.

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Read tutorials, If you read w3schools tutorials that are best.

If you are using WordPress, be sure to check out gravity forms (gravityforms(dot)com). It is a great plugin that doesn't require a bunch of html/php knowledge. As always, I recommend learning some html, css, and php so you can tweak things.