Not showing placeholder for input type="date" field

Dynamic strategies for date input

To bridge the gap in the input type date, dynamic strategies offer a fruitful way to render improved user experiences across diverse platforms, including desktop and PhoneGap applications.

Clever switch: input type "text" to "date"

Initiate the field as a text input displaying the placeholder, then twist it into a date picker when users focus on it:

const input = document.querySelector('.date-input'); 

input.addEventListener('focus', function(){
  this.type = 'date'; // Bam! Now it's a date type.
});
input.addEventListener('blur', function(){
  if(this.value === '') {
    this.type = 'text'; // And we're back to text.
  }
});


This is a particularly beneficial solution for PhoneGap apps, where the native date picker dramatically enhances the UX on mobile devices.

CSS flavor: A pseudo-placeholder

Take advantage of CSS :before selector and the content property to sketch a stylized placeholder for the input type date:

input[type="date"] {
  // Styling adjustments for mic drop moments
}
input[type="date"]:before {
  content: attr(placeholder);
  color: grey;
  text-align: left;
  margin-right: 10px;
  // Commenting out so you don't think we forgot
}
input[type="date"]:focus:before {
  content: none; // Play hide and seek
}


Implementing the toggle input type switch on focus in conjunction with the CSS-generated placeholder, yields a smooth and responsive user interface for date input on various platforms, ensuring cross-browser compatibility and amplifying overall user experience.

Chameleon masks and class mutualism

For desktop users, add input masking with jQuery or vanilla JavaScript to guide users through the process of date format entry:

$('.date-input').mask('00/00/0000'); // Follow the digital footprints


Additionally, juggle with classes to reflect the varying states of an input. For instance, implement a has-value class when the field contains a date and control the placeholder visibility accordingly using CSS:

input.addEventListener('change', function(){
  if(this.value) {
    this.classList.add('has-value'); // You're in the cool kids' club
  } else {
    this.classList.remove('has-value'); // Sorry, club's full
  }
});


This way, the visibility of the placeholder adjusts dynamically, ensuring an interactive and intuitive session for users.

Roadblocks and detours

While structuring user-interaction, consider various real-world scenarios and potential roadblocks that might disrupt the flow of date-input management.

Prioritize web accessibility

Ensure your date inputs are easy to navigate and read for screen readers, embracing web accessibility standards. Leverage ARIA labels and roles to juice up such implementations.

Embrace internationalization

International users might sport different date formats. Curb this issue by adapting both the placeholder and date-handling logic to accommodate these variations.

Dodge browser discrepancies

Keep in mind browser-specific behaviors. Run your implementation across popular browsers, even the notorious Internet Explorer, as it may exhibit a different rendering style for date inputs.

Polishing the gem: Advanced implementations

Rendering a user-friendly date input field requires an understanding of technology boundaries and nuances in user behaviour.

Progressively enhancing user experience

Apply progressive enhancement to imbue more sophisticated attributes if the user's browser approves.

Responsive coherence

Ensure your date input adapts smoothly across different screen sizes by incorporating media queries and flexible units in your CSS.

Performance tuning

Limit the performance impact of JavaScript and CSS on your forms, especially for mobile users. Efficient class manipulations and non-obtrusive JavaScript will resonate with a smoother experience.

The holy grail of testing

Perform extensive usability testing across multiple devices to take care of edge cases and maintain a consistent interface, ensuring seamless operation.