Bug 92: Placeholder as Label (F78 + F82 CHAOS)

WCAG 1.4.3 (Minimum Contrast) + 3.3.2 (Labels) | Placeholder text disappears on focus, low contrast, no persistent label.

Failure F78 + F82: Placeholder-Only Labels with Low Contrast

Issues:

  • Placeholder text disappears when user types
  • Low contrast (#999 on white)
  • No persistent label or aria-label
  • Screen readers don't announce purpose
  • Unclear what each field expects
Failure F78: Search Form - Placeholder Only

Issue: Placeholder "Search products..." vanishes on focus. User can't remember field purpose mid-input.

Failure F82: Address Form Fields - Very Light Placeholder

Issue: Nearly invisible placeholder text (#ddd on #f9f9f9). User has no clue what fields require.

Better Approach (For Reference)

Always use labels + placeholder for best UX:

Correct Pattern:

HAL Fixes: HAL adds visible labels linked via aria-labelledby or aria-label. HAL increases placeholder contrast to 4.5:1. HAL preserves or restores placeholder hint text on focus. HAL adds aria-required="true" for required fields.