Understanding `placeholder` vs `value` in HTML Inputs (Q&A)

[Rajeev Bagra]

Context Code

<input name="q" type="text" placeholder="Search Google or type a URL" />
</div>
<div class="buttonsindex">
  <input type="submit" class="google-submit" value="Google Search" />
  <input type="submit" class="google-submit" name="btnI" value="I'm Feeling Lucky" />

---

Q1. What is the purpose of the placeholder attribute?

Answer:
The placeholder attribute provides temporary hint text inside a text input field to guide the user on what to type.

In the example:

<input type="text" placeholder="Search Google or type a URL">

• The text appears only when the field is empty
• It disappears as soon as the user starts typing
• It is not submitted with the form

The placeholder is purely instructional and does not represent actual input data.

---

Q2. What is the purpose of the value attribute?

Answer:
The value attribute represents the actual value of an input element.

In submit buttons, it defines the text displayed on the button:

<input type="submit" value="Google Search">

For text inputs, value would contain pre-filled data that gets submitted with the form.

---

Q3. Why does the search input use placeholder instead of value?

Answer:
Because the search box should start empty, showing only a hint. If value were used instead, that text would be treated as real input and submitted unless manually deleted by the user.

Using placeholder keeps the field empty while still guiding the user.

---

Q4. Why do the buttons use value and not placeholder?

Answer:
Buttons do not accept text input, so they cannot use placeholder.

For buttons:

• value defines the visible label
• The label is part of the form submission

Example:

<input type="submit" value="I'm Feeling Lucky">

Without value, the button would have no visible text.

---

Q5. What does the name="q" attribute do in the search input?

Answer:
The name attribute defines the key used when submitting form data.

<input name="q" type="text">

When a user searches for python, the browser sends:

?q=python

Google expects the search query under the parameter q.

---

Q6. Why does the “I’m Feeling Lucky” button have name="btnI"?

Answer:
The name="btnI" attribute allows the server to identify which button was clicked.

<input type="submit" name="btnI" value="I'm Feeling Lucky">

When clicked, the form submits something like:

?q=python&btnI=I'm+Feeling+Lucky

Google detects btnI and performs a direct redirect to the top result.

---

Q7. Does placeholder ever get submitted with the form?

Answer:
No.
placeholder text is never included in form submissions. Only actual user input stored in value (or typed into the field) is sent.

---

Q8. Can value be used in text inputs?

Answer:
Yes.

Example:

<input type="text" value="Default text">

In this case:

• The input starts pre-filled
• The text will be submitted unless changed

This is different from placeholder, which is never treated as real data.

---

Q9. What is the role of class="google-submit" in the buttons?

Answer:
The class attribute is used for CSS styling.

<input class="google-submit">

It allows you to apply the same visual styling (color, padding, border, etc.) to both buttons without repeating CSS rules.

---

Final Summary

Attribute	Purpose	Submitted
placeholder	User guidance	❌ No
value	Actual data / button label	✅ Yes
name	Key for form submission	✅ Yes

---

[Author]

Posts