[whatwg] [WF2] Clear On Focus attribute

[Charles Iliya Krempeaux]

Hello,

On 5/22/07, Matthew Paul Thomas <mpt at myrealbox.com> wrote:
> On May 22, 2007, at 3:35 AM, Stijn Peeters wrote:
> >
> > It is becoming increasingly common to have an input field clear its
> > value when it is first focused. Though in a lot of cases this is
> > actually wrong usage of the value=""  attribute for something which
> > should actually be done with <label> (such as a search box filled with
> > "Enter search query here" that becomes empty when you first click it),
>
> Indeed.
>
> > it is possible to come up with legitimate use cases; the first thing
> > that comes to mind are input fields with placeholder or default values
> > that may need to be changed. This goes well together with WF2's new
> > abilities for prefilling forms.
> >
> > It makes sense to clear these values when the field is focused, as the
> > user will probably want to insert a new value rather than edit the
> > value that is currently in it.
> > ...
>
> I don't understand. What use is a default value if you can't edit it?
> Why not make the field empty to begin with?

It's a Usability issue mixed with a Graphical design / aesthetics issue.,

You need a label for the field... but don't want to put one beside it.
 So the label goes inside the field... until you click on it.  (At
which point the label disappears.)


See ya

-- 
    Charles Iliya Krempeaux, B.Sc.

    charles @ reptile.ca
    supercanadian @ gmail.com

    developer weblog: http://ChangeLog.ca/