[Bug 19728] New: "Additional semantics" for the input element's title attribute are not explained

https://www.w3.org/Bugs/Public/show_bug.cgi?id=19728

          Priority: P2
            Bug ID: 19728
                CC: mike@w3.org, public-html-wg-issue-tracking@w3.org,
                    public-html@w3.org
          Assignee: erika.doyle@microsoft.com
           Summary: "Additional semantics" for the input element's title
                    attribute are not explained
        QA Contact: public-html-bugzilla@w3.org
          Severity: normal
    Classification: Unclassified
                OS: All
          Reporter: the.matt.kantor@gmail.com
          Hardware: All
            Status: NEW
           Version: unspecified
         Component: HTML5 spec
           Product: HTML WG

The documentation for global attributes contains the following text about the
title attribute
(<http://dev.w3.org/html5/spec/global-attributes.html#the-title-attribute>):

> Some elements, such as link, abbr, and input, define additional semantics for the title attribute beyond the semantics described above.

However, the documentation for the input element
(<http://dev.w3.org/html5/spec/the-input-element.html>) makes no mention of
what these additional semantics might be.

This was noted in the mailing list without any response:
<http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-html-comments/2012Jan/0007.html>.

---

On the "common input element attributes" documentation
(<http://dev.w3.org/html5/spec/common-input-element-attributes.html>) there are
some references to input title semantics:

> When a control has a pattern attribute, the title attribute, if used, must describe the pattern.

> UAs may still show the title in non-error situations (for example, as a tooltip when hovering over the control), so authors should be careful not to word titles as if an error has necessarily occurred.

> The placeholder attribute should not be used as an alternative to a label. For a longer hint or other advisory text, the title attribute is more appropriate.

> Note: These mechanisms are very similar but subtly different: the hint given by the control's label is shown at all times; the short hint given in the placeholder attribute is shown before the user enters a value; and the hint in the title attribute is shown when the user requests further help.

But this information should be generalized/consolidated and divulged on the
main documentation for the input element, especially since the natural thing to
do when trying to determine what the additional semantics are is to click on
the "input" link from the global title attribute documentation.

---

The documentation for the abbr element
(<http://dev.w3.org/html5/spec/the-abbr-element.html>) and the link element
(<http://dev.w3.org/html5/spec/the-link-element.html>) both contain notes that
say "Also, the title attribute has special semantics on this element" and in
the descriptions those special semantics are elaborated. Input should probably
follow this same model.

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