HTML - placeholder Attribute

HTML placeholder attribute is used to define a short hint that helps the user with data entry.

It appears when there is no value in the input field and automatically disappears when the user starts entering a value in the field. The hint is just a sample value or a brief description of the expected format. The placeholder attribute works with the search, text, number, email, password input types.

Syntax

<tag placeholder = "value"></tag>

Applies On

Below listed elements allow using of the HTML placeholder attribute

Element	Description
<input>	HTML <input> tag is used accpect various types of input from user.
<textarea>	HTML <textarea> tag is used to represent a multiline plain-text editing control.

Examples of HTML placeholder attribute

Below examples will illustrate the HTML placeholder attribute, where and how we should use this attribute!

Placeholder for text input

In the following example, we are going to use the placeholder attribute with the input type=text.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">

<head>
   <title>HTML 'placeholder' Attribute</title>
   <style>
      input {
         width: 200px;
         padding: 7px;
      }

      button {
         padding: 7px;
      }
   </style>
</head>

<body>
   <h3>
      Example of HTML 'placeholder' Attribute
   </h3>
   <form onsubmit="return false;">
      <h3>Login page</h3>
      <input type="text" 
             placeholder="Username(email or mobile)">
      <br>
      <br>
      <input type="password" 
             placeholder="Password">
      <br>
      <br>
      <button>Login</button>
   </form>
</body>

</html>

Placeholder for textarea element

Consider the another scenario, where we are going to use the placeholder attribute with the textarea field.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">

<head>
   <title>HTML 'placeholder' Attribute</title>
   <style>
      input {
         width: 200px;
         padding: 7px;
      }

      button {
         padding: 7px;
      }
   </style>
</head>

<body>
   <h3>
      Example of the HTML 'placeholder' Attribute
   </h3>
   <form>
      <textarea cols="30" rows="5" 
                placeholder="Write your feedback...."></textarea>
      <br>
      <button>Submit</button>
   </form>
</body>

</html>

Supported Browsers

Attribute
placeholder	Yes 10.0	Yes 10.0	Yes 4.0	Yes 5.0	Yes 11.0

html_attributes_reference.htm