Can you have multiline HTML5 placeholder text in a ``?

html

responsive-design

best-practices

web-development

byNikita Barsukov·Jan 31, 2025

The HTML5 <textarea> does not inherently support multiline placeholders. To showcase this ability, we use a CSS pseudo-element overlay that will disappear once typing commences.

Example with CSS pseudo-element:

/* This fake it till you make it vibe */
textarea::placeholder {
  display: block;
  white-space: pre-line;
}

Placeholder using encoded line breaks:

<textarea placeholder="Line 1 of text&#10;Line 2 of text"></textarea>

This approach is fairly clean and leverages the ability of the placeholder attribute to process encoded line breaks (
 triggers a new line). It also avails a non-JavaScript-dependent way to generate a multiline placeholder for textarea.

Diving into specifications and browser nuances

The HTML5 specification mandates that carriage returns and line feeds, inside placeholder text, should be depicted as line breaks. The majority of modern browsers, such as Chrome version 63.0.3239.132, respects this particular detail.

Bearing in mind other browsers, it's crucial to cross-check current compatibility. Even though a significant number of browsers render multiline placeholders correctly, a few, like Safari and Opera, might not fully support every hack, particularly the ones dependent on JavaScript.

Dealing with inconsistent behaviors and creating fallbacks

To attain more comprehensive browser support, you might opt for a JavaScript-based workaround. In this context, your script would replace the \n characters with actual line breaks. However, this plan could contradict HTML5 spec compliance and may lead to compatibility issues.

Modifications employing script:

/*
  Honest confession: This script was much easier when I thought the world was flat, just  like a textarea!
*/
document.querySelector('textarea').setAttribute('placeholder', 'First Line\nSecond Line');

While Webkit browsers provide a greater level of flexibility with CSS and pseudo-elements such as ::after, these workarounds might not function consistently across all browsers. To mitigate the risk, exhaustive testing is recommended across diverse platforms and devices.

Emphasizing resilience and staying current

It's wise to keep an eye out for updates in HTML5 specifications since browser support is a swiftly evolving landscape. Any hacks or tricks should be accompanied by viable fallback strategies or alternatives. This can help ensure a smooth user experience despite variances in browser choices.

Streamlining user experience across browsers

An essential aspect is to create consistency across various browsers. This need is particularly felt when CSS hacks are used to form multiline placeholders—such hacks may behave differently in Firefox or other non-Webkit browsers.

Moreover, one needs to be cognizant that non-HTML5 solutions may face future deprecation. As browser market shares fluctuates, your solution should remain robust and easily adaptable to withstand these shifts.

Alternate hacks to achieve multiline effects

Another angle is the pseudo-multiline effect achieved with ample whitespaces. A cleverly formatted single-line placeholder can use space characters to visually simulate multiline placement:

/* The hack that says I can't make lines, but I can surely make spaces! */
<textarea placeholder="Address Line1    City, State"></textarea>

While this workaround lacks the actual line breaks, it is quick to implement and effectively sidesteps potential pitfalls arising from browser-specific hacks or JavaScript reliance.

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