Would it be just as good to include a "placeholder" attribute?

Hi Bradley,

Placeholders are good for showing example content within a field, but unfortunately when you use it as a label you're confronted with some accessibility issues. Placeholders aren't read as labels from assistive technologies. Though perhaps there are some instances where you want to not have a label visible and instead use the placeholder. In those cases I'd suggest including a aria-label="Your Label" attribute within the input to specify the label text.

Hi Tim,

Adding support for your excellent post above, I just read an article "Don’t Use The Placeholder Attribute" dated June, 2018, which more than suitably defines numerous aspects of acceptable, with not so acceptable, accessible designs.

Here's the summary of the article.

The placeholder attribute contains a surprising amount of issues that prevent it from delivering on what it promises. Let’s clarify why you need to stop using it.

It's probably the most comprehensive article I've read at Smashing Magazine. The subsequent comments (or debates) with regard to the author's points of view were not inappropriate, but generously contributed information for designers' conversations with other designers and, of course, clients.

David

Note: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines Success Criteria 2.4.6 and 3.3.2.