Changing the color of a placeholder using Javascript: A step-by-step guide

Question

Changing the color of a placeholder using Javascript: A step-by-step guide

I've been searching online without any luck so far. I'm attempting to change the placeholder color of a text box using JavaScript, but I'm not sure how to go about it. I already have a color picker that changes colors.

If my CSS looks something like this, how can I update it?

::placeholder {
  color: red;
}

<input placeholder="placeholder" />

Is there a JavaScript command for making this change? Something along the lines of:

document.getElementById('text').style.placeholderColor = newColor;

javascript html css pseudo-element

Answer 1

Answer №1

To enhance styling flexibility, utilize CSS variables and target specific elements efficiently.

function update() {
  document.querySelector('input[type=text]').style.setProperty("--c", "blue");
}

::placeholder {
  color: var(--c, red);
}

<input type="text" placeholder="I will be blue">
<input type="number" placeholder="I will remain red">
<button onclick="update()">change</button>

CSS variables are particularly handy for tweaking pseudo elements like :before, :after, ::placeholer/::selection, etc., which may not be directly accessed with JavaScript. By defining a custom property on the main element that can be easily updated, the pseudo-element inherits it seamlessly.

Related: Selecting and manipulating CSS pseudo-elements such as ::before and ::after using jQuery

Answer 2

To enhance styling flexibility, utilize CSS variables and target specific elements efficiently.

function update() {
  document.querySelector('input[type=text]').style.setProperty("--c", "blue");
}

::placeholder {
  color: var(--c, red);
}

<input type="text" placeholder="I will be blue">
<input type="number" placeholder="I will remain red">
<button onclick="update()">change</button>

CSS variables are particularly handy for tweaking pseudo elements like :before, :after, ::placeholer/::selection, etc., which may not be directly accessed with JavaScript. By defining a custom property on the main element that can be easily updated, the pseudo-element inherits it seamlessly.

Related: Selecting and manipulating CSS pseudo-elements such as ::before and ::after using jQuery

Answer 3

Answer №2

It has been mentioned in previous responses that modifying pseudo-element styles inline is not possible. Nevertheless, you have the option to adjust the CSS rule within the <style> tag itself without relying on browser support for CSS variables. By accessing the stylesheet, you can retrieve an existing rule or insert a new one and manipulate its style declarations just like you would with an element's .style property:

const {sheet} = Object.assign(document.head.appendChild(document.createElement("style")), {type: "text/css" });
const placeholderStyle = sheet.rules[sheet.insertRule("::placeholder {}")].style;
placeholderStyle.color = "blue";

Object.assign(document.body.appendChild(document.createElement("input")), {
  type: "button", value: "Change Color!", onclick() {
    placeholderStyle.color = "#"+Math.round(Math.random()*0xFFF).toString(16).padStart("0",3);
}});

<input placeholder="custom placeholder" />

Answer 4

It has been mentioned in previous responses that modifying pseudo-element styles inline is not possible. Nevertheless, you have the option to adjust the CSS rule within the <style> tag itself without relying on browser support for CSS variables. By accessing the stylesheet, you can retrieve an existing rule or insert a new one and manipulate its style declarations just like you would with an element's .style property:

const {sheet} = Object.assign(document.head.appendChild(document.createElement("style")), {type: "text/css" });
const placeholderStyle = sheet.rules[sheet.insertRule("::placeholder {}")].style;
placeholderStyle.color = "blue";

Object.assign(document.body.appendChild(document.createElement("input")), {
  type: "button", value: "Change Color!", onclick() {
    placeholderStyle.color = "#"+Math.round(Math.random()*0xFFF).toString(16).padStart("0",3);
}});

<input placeholder="custom placeholder" />

Answer 5

Answer №3

Here is an alternative method that may seem a bit unconventional: you can utilize JavaScript to dynamically add additional CSS rules at the end of the document body. This way, newer CSS styles will override existing ones, as long as the selectors and properties are the same.

function changeColor(toColor) {
  addCSS = document.createElement('style');
  addCSS.innerHTML = "::placeholder { color: " + toColor + "; }";
  document.body.append(addCSS);
}

::placeholder { color: green; }

<input type="text" placeholder="placeholder">
<button onclick="changeColor('red')">red</button>
<button onclick="changeColor('blue')">blue</button>

Answer 6

Here is an alternative method that may seem a bit unconventional: you can utilize JavaScript to dynamically add additional CSS rules at the end of the document body. This way, newer CSS styles will override existing ones, as long as the selectors and properties are the same.

function changeColor(toColor) {
  addCSS = document.createElement('style');
  addCSS.innerHTML = "::placeholder { color: " + toColor + "; }";
  document.body.append(addCSS);
}

::placeholder { color: green; }

<input type="text" placeholder="placeholder">
<button onclick="changeColor('red')">red</button>
<button onclick="changeColor('blue')">blue</button>

Answer 7

Answer №4

If the styling of a placeholder element needs to change based on certain conditions, it can be achieved indirectly.

::placeholder { color: green; }
.warn::placeholder { color: red; }

<input id="test" placeholder="hello">
<button onclick="test.classList.toggle('warn')">Warning!</button>

In many scenarios, this can be accomplished without the need for JavaScript:

::placeholder { color: green; }
.color::after { content: 'green'; }

:checked + .color + ::placeholder { color: red; }
:checked + .color::after { content: 'red'; }

<input type="checkbox" id="color01">
<label class="color" for="color01">Color: </label>
<input placeholder="hello">

Answer 8

If the styling of a placeholder element needs to change based on certain conditions, it can be achieved indirectly.

::placeholder { color: green; }
.warn::placeholder { color: red; }

<input id="test" placeholder="hello">
<button onclick="test.classList.toggle('warn')">Warning!</button>

In many scenarios, this can be accomplished without the need for JavaScript:

::placeholder { color: green; }
.color::after { content: 'green'; }

:checked + .color + ::placeholder { color: red; }
:checked + .color::after { content: 'red'; }

<input type="checkbox" id="color01">
<label class="color" for="color01">Color: </label>
<input placeholder="hello">

Answer 9

Answer №5

The code snippet provided below is fully functional without the need for any modifications to existing CSS. While it may require some adjustments to work with your color picker, it serves as a good starting point.

const placeholder = document.createElement("style");
placeholder.innerHTML = `::placeholder { color:red;font-weight:bold;font-size:1.25rem;} #plchld { font-size:1.25rem;text-align:center; } `;
const plchld = document.getElementById("plchld");
plchld.addEventListener("click", function () {
  plchld.setAttribute("placeholder", "Now I'm Bright Red!");
  document.form.appendChild(placeholder);
});
plchld.addEventListener("blur", function () {
  plchld.setAttribute("placeholder", "now I'm a dreary gray again...");
  document.form.removeChild(placeholder);
});

<form name="form" action="">
<input type="text" id="plchld" size="28" placeholder="I'm currently a dreary shade of gray...">
</form>

Answer 10

The code snippet provided below is fully functional without the need for any modifications to existing CSS. While it may require some adjustments to work with your color picker, it serves as a good starting point.

const placeholder = document.createElement("style");
placeholder.innerHTML = `::placeholder { color:red;font-weight:bold;font-size:1.25rem;} #plchld { font-size:1.25rem;text-align:center; } `;
const plchld = document.getElementById("plchld");
plchld.addEventListener("click", function () {
  plchld.setAttribute("placeholder", "Now I'm Bright Red!");
  document.form.appendChild(placeholder);
});
plchld.addEventListener("blur", function () {
  plchld.setAttribute("placeholder", "now I'm a dreary gray again...");
  document.form.removeChild(placeholder);
});

<form name="form" action="">
<input type="text" id="plchld" size="28" placeholder="I'm currently a dreary shade of gray...">
</form>

Answer 11

Answer №6

When it comes to changing pseudo-element styles inline or directly with JavaScript, the options are limited. However, one workaround (particularly in a React environment) is to dynamically add a new classname based on the search status.

    const [searchResult,setSearchResult] = useState(false)

This can be achieved by adding a new classname to the input element as shown below:

   <div classname={`${searchResult?'input-success':'input-error'}`}>
    <input placeholder="placeholder" />
   </div>

Subsequently, update the CSS to reflect the different styles for each classname:

    .input-success input::placeholder {
      color: green;
     }

    .input-error input::placeholder {
      color: red;
     }

Answer 12

When it comes to changing pseudo-element styles inline or directly with JavaScript, the options are limited. However, one workaround (particularly in a React environment) is to dynamically add a new classname based on the search status.

    const [searchResult,setSearchResult] = useState(false)

This can be achieved by adding a new classname to the input element as shown below:

   <div classname={`${searchResult?'input-success':'input-error'}`}>
    <input placeholder="placeholder" />
   </div>

Subsequently, update the CSS to reflect the different styles for each classname:

    .input-success input::placeholder {
      color: green;
     }

    .input-error input::placeholder {
      color: red;
     }

Changing the color of a placeholder using Javascript: A step-by-step guide

Answer №1

Answer №2

Answer №3

Answer №4

Answer №5

Answer №6

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