1. A client-side computer-implemented apparatus for performing validations on a web-based form, wherein the web-based form was provided by a server over a network, comprising: an array of web-based control elements contained in the web-based form for acquiring responses from a user, wherein manipulation of a control element in the array affects the value associated with the control element, trans-control element rules containing validation conditions that specify control element-related actions based upon state information from a plurality of the web-based control elements; and a control element handler that modifies a value of a first control element within the array after using the trans-control element rules to examine both the state information of the first control element and the state information of a second control element within the array.