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CSS Pseudo-class / Element

::placeholder

Form

Styles the placeholder text inside input and textarea elements.

Syntax

input::placeholder { }

Example

input::placeholder { color: #555; font-style: italic; }

Common use cases

  • Customizing placeholder text color
  • Matching placeholder style to design system
  • Reducing placeholder visibility for cleaner inputs

Practical developer insight

Technically ::placeholder is a pseudo-element not a pseudo-class, but it's commonly grouped with form pseudo-classes. Keep contrast accessible.

Related

:focus:disabled:required