Decision Do not use placeholder text in form fields

Decision

Use placeholder text in fields as little as possible, favoring static field labels and help text.

Common issues with placeholders include:

• Insufficent contrast between the placeholder and the text field.
• Issues perceiving the placeholder as it vanishes when content is entered.
• Poor display for users browsing with Windows High Contrast Mode.

For in-depth explanations, see the following resources:

• Don’t Use The Placeholder Attribute
• Placeholder text in W3.org's Form Instructions
• The Anatomy of Accessible Forms: The Problem with Placeholders

Consequences

Forms will be more usable for a variety of users. Designers and developers will need to remember not to use placeholder settings in form designs, when configuring Drupal fields, or developing custom forms.