Forms & Microcopy
Visible labels
Keep form labels visible above fields. Placeholders are not labels.
See it
Don't
- Labels vanish once you type
- You can't check which field is which before submitting
Do
Full name
Jane Doe
Work email
jane@acme.com
Phone
+91 98200 00000
Why it matters
Placeholder text disappears when you type, so users forget what a field was for. It also usually fails contrast. Keep labels visible above the field.
How to apply it
- Put a short label above every field
- Use placeholders only for format examples, if at all
- Mark the optional fields when most are required
Common mistakes
- Placeholder-only forms
- Pale placeholder text that fails contrast
Quick answers
What is Visible labels?
Keep form labels visible above fields. Placeholders are not labels. Placeholder text disappears when you type, so users forget what a field was for. It also usually fails contrast. Keep labels visible above the field.
How do I apply Visible labels in UI design?
Put a short label above every field. Use placeholders only for format examples, if at all. Mark the optional fields when most are required.
What are common mistakes with Visible labels?
Placeholder-only forms. Pale placeholder text that fails contrast.