WebAIM - Web Accessibility In Mind

E-mail List Archives

Re: Placeholder text in forms for Priority 3

for

From: Dan Conley
Date: Aug 8, 2008 6:30AM

Is having something in the box ok, or does that cause more problems now?
When I first started developing our site I included them, but now I'm
thinking that perhaps I should remove it all.

Dan Conley
Information Specialist
Center for International Information Research and Exchange (CIRRIE)
University at Buffalo, Health Sciences Library B6
Phone: (716) 829-3900 x145
<EMAIL REMOVED>
http://cirrie.buffalo.edu

Rich Pedley wrote:
> On 08/08/2008 11:44, Patrick H. Lauke wrote:
>> Paul Collins wrote:
>>
>>> "10.4 Until user agents handle empty controls correctly, include default,
>>> place-holding characters in edit boxes and text areas."
>>>
>>> Are there any user agents that still have a problem with this?
>> The original culprit was, if memory serves me, Netscape 2 combined with
>> Alva Outspoken on Mac OS 8 or 9. I'd say it's now fair to assume all
>> user agents are fine.
>>
>> The only other instance I've heard of where not having placeholder text
>> could be an issue is with certain text browsers in combination with
>> braille displays...but that's more of a failing on the part of those
>> browsers, and a fairly edge case.
>>
>> Long story short: ignore that point.
>
> *thwack*
>
> we came up with using a single space some time ago, which can be
> easily trimmed out upon processing.
>
> Rich
>
>
>