The :placeholder-shown pseudo-class is used to style the input box when the placeholder text is visible, and it takes effect when the user does not enter content. 1. It is suitable for form scenes that require visual feedback, such as distinguishing empty fields from filled fields; 2. It can be used to adjust borders, background colors, or control other elements to display hidden; 3. It acts on <input> and
The :placeholder-shown
pseudo-class in CSS is used to style an input element only when the placeholder text is currently visible . That means it applies styles when the user hasn't entered any value into the input field yet.
This is super handy if you want to change how an input looks when it's empty versus when it has actual content — like adjusting borders, background colors, or even hiding/showing other elements based on whether something's been typed.
When to Use :placeholder-shown
You'll typically reach for :placeholder-shown
when building forms where visual feedback matters. For example:
- Styling empty fields differently to guide users
- Making placeholders more readable by tweaking font size or color
- Adjusting padding or layout to improve usability
It works on form elements like <input>
and <textarea></textarea>
, but not all elements support placeholders — only those that accept text input and have a placeholder
attribute.
Here are some common scenarios:
- Highlighting required fields only when they're empty
- Changing border color while the placeholder is shown
- Adding subtle animations or transitions when the user starts typing
How It Works in Practice
Let's say you have a basic text input like this:
<input type="text" placeholder="Your name">
If you want to style it differently when the placeholder is visible, you could do something like:
input { padding: 10px; border: 1px solid #ccc; } input:placeholder-shown { border-color: #999; background-color: #f9f9f9; }
So while the placeholder shows, the border becomes darker and the background gets a little lighter. Once someone types anything, that style no longer apply.
A few quick notes:
- You can combine it with other pseudo-classes like
:focus
or:invalid
- The selector doesn't apply once any character (even a space) is entered
- It doesn't target the placeholder text itself — just the input container
Common Pitfalls and Tips
One thing to watch out for: browsers sometimes treat placeholder styleling inconsistently. For example, Safari might render placeholder text differently than Chrome unless you explicitly style it using ::placeholder
.
Also, don't confuse :placeholder-shown
with ::placeholder
. The former targets the input element when the placeholder is visible; the latter lets you style the placeholder text directly.
Another tip: use :placeholder-shown
for UX improvements, like showing helper text or icons only when the field is empty. For instance, you could hide a "clear" button until the input has text.
And remember — always test across browsers, especially if you're relying on subtle visual cues.
That's the basics of :placeholder-shown
. It's not complicated, but it gives you a nice way to make forms feel more responsive and user-friendly without needing JavaScript.
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