Detect if input placeholder is visible

I'm trying to find a way to detect if an input is currently showing a placeholder.

I know we can test whether or not placeholders are supported in a given browser, which I would use, but that's not what I'm asking here.

The :placeholder-shown pseudo class does exactly what I need, but the support for it is very low. Much lower than the support for placeholders in general. So I'm looking for an alternative method.

Note: The solution cannot rely on whether or not the input has changed or gained a value. Autofilled inputs neither have a technical value, nor have changed. Therefore the solution needs to truly detect the placeholder it'self.

asked Feb 13 '16 at 21:41

Chase

9631917

add a comment |

I'm trying to find a way to detect if an input is currently showing a placeholder.

I know we can test whether or not placeholders are supported in a given browser, which I would use, but that's not what I'm asking here.

The :placeholder-shown pseudo class does exactly what I need, but the support for it is very low. Much lower than the support for placeholders in general. So I'm looking for an alternative method.

asked Feb 13 '16 at 21:41

Chase

9631917

add a comment |

I'm trying to find a way to detect if an input is currently showing a placeholder.

I know we can test whether or not placeholders are supported in a given browser, which I would use, but that's not what I'm asking here.

The :placeholder-shown pseudo class does exactly what I need, but the support for it is very low. Much lower than the support for placeholders in general. So I'm looking for an alternative method.

asked Feb 13 '16 at 21:41

Chase

9631917

I'm trying to find a way to detect if an input is currently showing a placeholder.

I know we can test whether or not placeholders are supported in a given browser, which I would use, but that's not what I'm asking here.

The :placeholder-shown pseudo class does exactly what I need, but the support for it is very low. Much lower than the support for placeholders in general. So I'm looking for an alternative method.

javascript jquery placeholder

asked Feb 13 '16 at 21:41

Chase

9631917

asked Feb 13 '16 at 21:41

Chase

9631917

asked Feb 13 '16 at 21:41

Chase

9631917

asked Feb 13 '16 at 21:41

Chase

9631917

asked Feb 13 '16 at 21:41

Chase

9631917

add a comment |

3 Answers
3

active

oldest

votes

First, check to see if the placeholder attribute is being used by the element, and then check to see if the value of the input is empty:

function placeholderActive(selector) {

  var el = document.querySelector(selector);

  if (el.getAttribute('placeholder') && el.value === '') {

    return true;

  }

  return false;

}





var a = placeholderActive('#test1'); // false

var b = placeholderActive('#test2'); // false

var c = placeholderActive('#test3'); // false

var d = placeholderActive('#test4'); // true



console.log(a, b, c, d);

<input id="test1" name="test1" value="123">

<input id="test2" name="test2" placeholder="" value="123">

<input id="test3" name="test3" placeholder="Some Placeholder" value="123">

<input id="test4" name="test4" placeholder="Another placeholder" value="">

edited Oct 1 '16 at 17:05

answered Feb 13 '16 at 21:57

Bowser

415

add a comment |

Add the required attribute to the input and then use :invalid to select the input that shows the placeholder.

This does not work with input types like email or inputs with a pattern attribute.

Using js is still the best option if you want it to work properly in all cases.

answered Feb 13 '16 at 21:52

seahorsepip

2,79411019

Thanks for the reply, but the required method only covers specific use cases, which many forms don't fall within. I'm looking for something less constrained.
– Chase
Feb 13 '16 at 21:57

add a comment |

Nowadays, for most browsers we can use :placeholder-shown pseudo-class to detect whether placeholder is shown or not.

function placeholderActive(selector) {

  return !!document.querySelector(selector + ':placeholder-shown');

}

const a = placeholderActive('#test1'); // false

const b = placeholderActive('#test2'); // false

const c = placeholderActive('#test3'); // false

const d = placeholderActive('#test4'); // true



console.log(a, b, c, d);

<input id="test1" name="test1" value="123">

<input id="test2" name="test2" placeholder="" value="123">

<input id="test3" name="test3" placeholder="Some Placeholder" value="123">

<input id="test4" name="test4" placeholder="Another placeholder" value="">

CSS-Tricks: https://css-tricks.com/almanac/selectors/p/placeholder-shown/

CanIUse: https://caniuse.com/#feat=css-placeholder-shown

answered Nov 21 at 4:21

Enzam Hossain

31926

add a comment |

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3 Answers
3

active

oldest

votes

3 Answers
3

active

oldest

votes

First, check to see if the placeholder attribute is being used by the element, and then check to see if the value of the input is empty:

function placeholderActive(selector) {

  var el = document.querySelector(selector);

  if (el.getAttribute('placeholder') && el.value === '') {

    return true;

  }

  return false;

}





var a = placeholderActive('#test1'); // false

var b = placeholderActive('#test2'); // false

var c = placeholderActive('#test3'); // false

var d = placeholderActive('#test4'); // true



console.log(a, b, c, d);

<input id="test1" name="test1" value="123">

<input id="test2" name="test2" placeholder="" value="123">

<input id="test3" name="test3" placeholder="Some Placeholder" value="123">

<input id="test4" name="test4" placeholder="Another placeholder" value="">

edited Oct 1 '16 at 17:05

answered Feb 13 '16 at 21:57

Bowser

415

add a comment |

First, check to see if the placeholder attribute is being used by the element, and then check to see if the value of the input is empty:

function placeholderActive(selector) {

  var el = document.querySelector(selector);

  if (el.getAttribute('placeholder') && el.value === '') {

    return true;

  }

  return false;

}





var a = placeholderActive('#test1'); // false

var b = placeholderActive('#test2'); // false

var c = placeholderActive('#test3'); // false

var d = placeholderActive('#test4'); // true



console.log(a, b, c, d);

<input id="test1" name="test1" value="123">

<input id="test2" name="test2" placeholder="" value="123">

<input id="test3" name="test3" placeholder="Some Placeholder" value="123">

<input id="test4" name="test4" placeholder="Another placeholder" value="">

edited Oct 1 '16 at 17:05

answered Feb 13 '16 at 21:57

Bowser

415

add a comment |

First, check to see if the placeholder attribute is being used by the element, and then check to see if the value of the input is empty:

function placeholderActive(selector) {

  var el = document.querySelector(selector);

  if (el.getAttribute('placeholder') && el.value === '') {

    return true;

  }

  return false;

}





var a = placeholderActive('#test1'); // false

var b = placeholderActive('#test2'); // false

var c = placeholderActive('#test3'); // false

var d = placeholderActive('#test4'); // true



console.log(a, b, c, d);

<input id="test1" name="test1" value="123">

<input id="test2" name="test2" placeholder="" value="123">

<input id="test3" name="test3" placeholder="Some Placeholder" value="123">

<input id="test4" name="test4" placeholder="Another placeholder" value="">

edited Oct 1 '16 at 17:05

answered Feb 13 '16 at 21:57

Bowser

415

First, check to see if the placeholder attribute is being used by the element, and then check to see if the value of the input is empty:

function placeholderActive(selector) {

  var el = document.querySelector(selector);

  if (el.getAttribute('placeholder') && el.value === '') {

    return true;

  }

  return false;

}





var a = placeholderActive('#test1'); // false

var b = placeholderActive('#test2'); // false

var c = placeholderActive('#test3'); // false

var d = placeholderActive('#test4'); // true



console.log(a, b, c, d);

<input id="test1" name="test1" value="123">

<input id="test2" name="test2" placeholder="" value="123">

<input id="test3" name="test3" placeholder="Some Placeholder" value="123">

<input id="test4" name="test4" placeholder="Another placeholder" value="">

function placeholderActive(selector) {

  var el = document.querySelector(selector);

  if (el.getAttribute('placeholder') && el.value === '') {

    return true;

  }

  return false;

}





var a = placeholderActive('#test1'); // false

var b = placeholderActive('#test2'); // false

var c = placeholderActive('#test3'); // false

var d = placeholderActive('#test4'); // true



console.log(a, b, c, d);

<input id="test1" name="test1" value="123">

<input id="test2" name="test2" placeholder="" value="123">

<input id="test3" name="test3" placeholder="Some Placeholder" value="123">

<input id="test4" name="test4" placeholder="Another placeholder" value="">

function placeholderActive(selector) {

  var el = document.querySelector(selector);

  if (el.getAttribute('placeholder') && el.value === '') {

    return true;

  }

  return false;

}





var a = placeholderActive('#test1'); // false

var b = placeholderActive('#test2'); // false

var c = placeholderActive('#test3'); // false

var d = placeholderActive('#test4'); // true



console.log(a, b, c, d);

<input id="test1" name="test1" value="123">

<input id="test2" name="test2" placeholder="" value="123">

<input id="test3" name="test3" placeholder="Some Placeholder" value="123">

<input id="test4" name="test4" placeholder="Another placeholder" value="">

edited Oct 1 '16 at 17:05

answered Feb 13 '16 at 21:57

Bowser

415

edited Oct 1 '16 at 17:05

answered Feb 13 '16 at 21:57

Bowser

415

answered Feb 13 '16 at 21:57

Bowser

415

answered Feb 13 '16 at 21:57

Bowser

415

add a comment |

Add the required attribute to the input and then use :invalid to select the input that shows the placeholder.

This does not work with input types like email or inputs with a pattern attribute.

Using js is still the best option if you want it to work properly in all cases.

answered Feb 13 '16 at 21:52

seahorsepip

2,79411019

Thanks for the reply, but the required method only covers specific use cases, which many forms don't fall within. I'm looking for something less constrained.
– Chase
Feb 13 '16 at 21:57

add a comment |

Add the required attribute to the input and then use :invalid to select the input that shows the placeholder.

This does not work with input types like email or inputs with a pattern attribute.

Using js is still the best option if you want it to work properly in all cases.

answered Feb 13 '16 at 21:52

seahorsepip

2,79411019

Thanks for the reply, but the required method only covers specific use cases, which many forms don't fall within. I'm looking for something less constrained.
– Chase
Feb 13 '16 at 21:57

add a comment |

Add the required attribute to the input and then use :invalid to select the input that shows the placeholder.

This does not work with input types like email or inputs with a pattern attribute.

Using js is still the best option if you want it to work properly in all cases.

answered Feb 13 '16 at 21:52

seahorsepip

2,79411019

Add the required attribute to the input and then use :invalid to select the input that shows the placeholder.

This does not work with input types like email or inputs with a pattern attribute.

Using js is still the best option if you want it to work properly in all cases.

answered Feb 13 '16 at 21:52

seahorsepip

2,79411019

answered Feb 13 '16 at 21:52

seahorsepip

2,79411019

answered Feb 13 '16 at 21:52

seahorsepip

2,79411019

answered Feb 13 '16 at 21:52

seahorsepip

2,79411019

Thanks for the reply, but the required method only covers specific use cases, which many forms don't fall within. I'm looking for something less constrained.
– Chase
Feb 13 '16 at 21:57

add a comment |

Thanks for the reply, but the required method only covers specific use cases, which many forms don't fall within. I'm looking for something less constrained.
– Chase
Feb 13 '16 at 21:57

Thanks for the reply, but the required method only covers specific use cases, which many forms don't fall within. I'm looking for something less constrained.
– Chase
Feb 13 '16 at 21:57

add a comment |

Nowadays, for most browsers we can use :placeholder-shown pseudo-class to detect whether placeholder is shown or not.

function placeholderActive(selector) {

  return !!document.querySelector(selector + ':placeholder-shown');

}

const a = placeholderActive('#test1'); // false

const b = placeholderActive('#test2'); // false

const c = placeholderActive('#test3'); // false

const d = placeholderActive('#test4'); // true



console.log(a, b, c, d);

<input id="test1" name="test1" value="123">

<input id="test2" name="test2" placeholder="" value="123">

<input id="test3" name="test3" placeholder="Some Placeholder" value="123">

<input id="test4" name="test4" placeholder="Another placeholder" value="">

CSS-Tricks: https://css-tricks.com/almanac/selectors/p/placeholder-shown/

CanIUse: https://caniuse.com/#feat=css-placeholder-shown

answered Nov 21 at 4:21

Enzam Hossain

31926

add a comment |

Nowadays, for most browsers we can use :placeholder-shown pseudo-class to detect whether placeholder is shown or not.

function placeholderActive(selector) {

  return !!document.querySelector(selector + ':placeholder-shown');

}

const a = placeholderActive('#test1'); // false

const b = placeholderActive('#test2'); // false

const c = placeholderActive('#test3'); // false

const d = placeholderActive('#test4'); // true



console.log(a, b, c, d);

<input id="test1" name="test1" value="123">

<input id="test2" name="test2" placeholder="" value="123">

<input id="test3" name="test3" placeholder="Some Placeholder" value="123">

<input id="test4" name="test4" placeholder="Another placeholder" value="">

CSS-Tricks: https://css-tricks.com/almanac/selectors/p/placeholder-shown/

CanIUse: https://caniuse.com/#feat=css-placeholder-shown

answered Nov 21 at 4:21

Enzam Hossain

31926

add a comment |

Nowadays, for most browsers we can use :placeholder-shown pseudo-class to detect whether placeholder is shown or not.

function placeholderActive(selector) {

  return !!document.querySelector(selector + ':placeholder-shown');

}

const a = placeholderActive('#test1'); // false

const b = placeholderActive('#test2'); // false

const c = placeholderActive('#test3'); // false

const d = placeholderActive('#test4'); // true



console.log(a, b, c, d);

<input id="test1" name="test1" value="123">

<input id="test2" name="test2" placeholder="" value="123">

<input id="test3" name="test3" placeholder="Some Placeholder" value="123">

<input id="test4" name="test4" placeholder="Another placeholder" value="">

CSS-Tricks: https://css-tricks.com/almanac/selectors/p/placeholder-shown/

CanIUse: https://caniuse.com/#feat=css-placeholder-shown

answered Nov 21 at 4:21

Enzam Hossain

31926

Nowadays, for most browsers we can use :placeholder-shown pseudo-class to detect whether placeholder is shown or not.

function placeholderActive(selector) {

  return !!document.querySelector(selector + ':placeholder-shown');

}

const a = placeholderActive('#test1'); // false

const b = placeholderActive('#test2'); // false

const c = placeholderActive('#test3'); // false

const d = placeholderActive('#test4'); // true



console.log(a, b, c, d);

<input id="test1" name="test1" value="123">

<input id="test2" name="test2" placeholder="" value="123">

<input id="test3" name="test3" placeholder="Some Placeholder" value="123">

<input id="test4" name="test4" placeholder="Another placeholder" value="">

CSS-Tricks: https://css-tricks.com/almanac/selectors/p/placeholder-shown/

CanIUse: https://caniuse.com/#feat=css-placeholder-shown

function placeholderActive(selector) {

  return !!document.querySelector(selector + ':placeholder-shown');

}

const a = placeholderActive('#test1'); // false

const b = placeholderActive('#test2'); // false

const c = placeholderActive('#test3'); // false

const d = placeholderActive('#test4'); // true



console.log(a, b, c, d);

<input id="test1" name="test1" value="123">

<input id="test2" name="test2" placeholder="" value="123">

<input id="test3" name="test3" placeholder="Some Placeholder" value="123">

<input id="test4" name="test4" placeholder="Another placeholder" value="">

function placeholderActive(selector) {

  return !!document.querySelector(selector + ':placeholder-shown');

}

const a = placeholderActive('#test1'); // false

const b = placeholderActive('#test2'); // false

const c = placeholderActive('#test3'); // false

const d = placeholderActive('#test4'); // true



console.log(a, b, c, d);

<input id="test1" name="test1" value="123">

<input id="test2" name="test2" placeholder="" value="123">

<input id="test3" name="test3" placeholder="Some Placeholder" value="123">

<input id="test4" name="test4" placeholder="Another placeholder" value="">

answered Nov 21 at 4:21

Enzam Hossain

31926

answered Nov 21 at 4:21

Enzam Hossain

31926

answered Nov 21 at 4:21

Enzam Hossain

31926

answered Nov 21 at 4:21

Enzam Hossain

31926

add a comment |

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