JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<input type="text" name="ANSWER.TTQ.MENSYS.3." id="ANSWER_TTQ_MENSYS_3_" value="" class="forminfree">
<input type="button" name="ANSWER.TTQ.MENSYS.7." id="ANSWER.TTQ.MENSYS.7." value="Search" class="formsubfree" style="width:100px" onclick="searchCheck()">

JavaScript

function searchCheck(){
     var answer = $.trim($('#ANSWER_TTQ_MENSYS_3_').val());
     if(answer == '*' || answer == '%') alert('this is not allowed');
}