Many web designers like to add some default text to form inputs like text boxes, to signify what the user should type into the box. When the user clicks the input, this default is removed so they can begin typing. This can be a nice usability improvement when used correctly. Below you’ll find a nice, clean way to approach it, that requires minimal work on your part to get it working.
The HTML
On this page we’re going to work through an example of a single text box that comes with some default text. When the user clicks on the box, the default text is wiped away so that they can begin typing. If they click away from the box, without typing anything in, we will add the default text back so that they don’t forget what was meant to be typed. Check it out below:
Creating this text box is easy, we simply add the default text through the input’s
valueattribute, like so:Enter a date: <input type="text" name="date" value="yy-mm-dd">
This default — known as a “representative value” — suggests that in this case our form is expecting a date in the format “yy-mm-dd” (two numbers for the year, two for the month, and two for the day; for example “05-11-22”). This is very useful for users, since they will all have different preferences for how to enter dates. Coding all of these possibilities into your form-processing code can be a nightmare, so this way you can guide your users to enter the date in the preferred format, and save yourself the trouble.
The JavaScript
The magic part in all of this is accomplished through a sprinkle of JavaScript. You should have some knowledge of event handlers and working with forms to understand what happens next. This script is going to be made » unobtrusive, meaning you can add the JavaScript file to any page and it will just work without having to make big changes to the HTML of the page.
The setup of our JavaScript is as so:
- When the page loads, we will save the value of the input as a property of the element, so we can use it later.
- When the user clicks (or otherwise focuses) on the element, we check if the current value is the same as this saved default text. If it is, we clear the input. Otherwise we leave it as it is.
- When the user clicks away from the element, we check if they’ve filled anything into the text box. If they have, we do nothing. If they’ve left it blank, we’ll fill back in the default text.
This nicely breaks down into three JavaScript functions. First of all, we’re going to need myutil-functions.js file, which provides a slew of general-use functions. (Internet Explorer users, open the .js files with Notepad.) Import that file and this new clear-default-text.jsfile and you’re good to go. Save those two files among your other website files, and add this to the
<head> of any pages you need it in:<script type="text/javascript" src="util-functions.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="clear-default-text.js"></script>
Finally, and very importantly, for any text inputs that you want this to work on, you need to give them a special class, like this:
<input type="text" name="date" value="yy-mm-dd" class="cleardefault">
Our script checks for the existance of this class in order to work its magic. Those who want to understand how the code works can read on for the full explanation...
Explaining the JavaScript
So, our first function runs when the page loads, and finds all the
input elements on the page. If the input has the type “text” (i.e. it’s a one-line text input), and it has the class “cleardefault,” we add event handlers for the focus and blur events.
Then we save the input’s current value into a new property that we’re creating, called
defaultText. This makes use of JavaScript’s handy ability to add arbitrary properties to any element. We simply make up a new one so we can store this information as part of the element.
So, now our inputs are set up, we need the function that run when the
focus and blur events occur. They’re pretty simple. First, in both, we have to find the target element that actually fired the event. Once we have this, we check to see if the user has interacted with this input before, and react accordingly.
And that’s all there is to it. This script can be dropped into any page, and as long as the inputs on the page have been given the right
class, it’ll work. Enjoy.