Re: placeholder text in input controls

I realize I'm far from the first to chime in on this discussion, but it bears considering that people with cognitive impairments—and, well, just plain people in general—can become frustrated when the only cue as to what belongs in a form field is the placeholder text.

After all, a general best practice is to give instructions at the point of need, which is as the person is completing the form field. And if the only place the label for the field appears is in the placeholder text, then the instructions are there until the person completing the form needs them—and then they disappear, right at the point of need.

We can make it happen, but that doesn't mean we should.

Cliff Tyllick