Auto Clear and Restore Form Elements
Using a small bit of JavaScript, it is possible to auto-clear and restore form elements when users bring focus to them. Simply copy, paste, and modify the following code example to achieve an effect similar to this:
Here is the HTML/JavaScript for your website:
<input value="Click here and this will disappear.." onfocus="if(this.value == 'Click here and this will disappear..') {this.value = '';}" onblur="if (this.value == '') {this.value = 'Click here and this will disappear..';}" type="text" size="77" />
Update
Here is another auto-clear JavaScript trick that cleans up the HTML but does not auto-restore the element. Simply place the first code block into the document head (or external JavaScript file), and then flesh out form elements in the second of block of code and place within the document body:
<script type="text/javascript">
function m(el) {
if ( el.defaultValue == el.value ) el.value = "";
}
</script>
<input type="text" name="target" value="This will disappear upon user focus.." onFocus="m(this)">
<input type="submit" name="submit" value="Submit">
About the Author
Jeff Starr = Designer. Developer. Producer. Writer. Editor. Etc.
2 responses to “Auto Clear and Restore Form Elements”
Thank you for this post.
Happy to help!