How do I put hint in a asp:textbox
To include a hint in your ASP:TextBox
, leverage the placeholder
attribute like so:
This shows a subtle, greyed-out hint within the box, vanishing once the user interacts with the field. Even if the placeholder
doesn't appear in IntelliSense, don't fret — it's still hard at work!
Augmenting input hints
Primer: Programmatically adding placeholders
Sometimes, you need to conditionally assign placeholder text. Use the AttributeCollection
in the code-behind for these tricky cases:
Language gymnastics with meta:resourcekey
International apps need to speak the users' language. Localize your placeholder
text with meta:resourcekey
. Remember to pair it with the corresponding resource files:
Considerate coding: cross-browser compatibility
Ensure your placeholder attribute is fair and square across all browsers and devices users might be using. Because hey, everyone deserves a decent user experience, right?
Beyond mere placeholders
Dressing up placeholders with CSS
Use CSS to give your placeholders a sartorial makeover that reinforce your branding:
HTML and CSS: When ASP isn't in-house
Even outside the asp:TextBox
realm, you can establish similar functionality using just good ol' HTML and CSS:
This gives you the freedom to fine-tune interactivity and styles with CSS and JavaScript.
Hints with preliminary value
Want to be extra helpful? Use the value
attribute as an auxiliary hint. Just remember to clear it when focus is received:
Then, emulate placeholder behavior:
Placeholder usage checklist
Bolstering UI/UX
Let's make placeholders less of a stylistic choice and more about enhancing usability—make 'em short, sweet, and helpful.
Consistency is beauty
Stick to responsive principles to maintain a consistent placeholder interaction across the tech rainbow of devices and resolutions.
Cross-validation, cross-love
Assertively ensure the functionality of your placeholder hint across the multitude of browsers and devices.
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