Does placeholder text pass 3.3.2, does disappearing text pass?

Recently on Twitter there has been lot's of discussion regarding
placeholder text as a label. Some say that since the label disappears on
input that the author is "hiding" the label, and it is a failure of SC
3.3.2.

H65 seems to indicate that there may be situations where it is ok not to
have a visible label.

"The objective of this technique is to use the title attribute to label
form controls when the visual design cannot accommodate the label (for
example, if there is no text on the screen that can be identified as a
label) or where it might be confusing to display a label. User agents,
including assistive technology, can speak the title attribute."

Mobile designers are sometimes quite adamant about the saved screen real
estate, but it is clearly worse for cognitive folks, and some low vision,
and is strongly criticized in usability circles. Let's assume the
placeholder text reports to the API. Do we need a failure, or should it
pass? Do we need to revise H65?

Cheers,

David MacDonald



*Can**Adapt* *Solutions Inc.*

Tel:  613.235.4902

LinkedIn <http://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmacdonald100>

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