Placeholders are small bits of text that offer hints, descriptions, or examples of what users should enter in a form. However, placeholders can disappear when users click into a field, which may cause confusion or strain short-term memory. To avoid this, don’t use placeholders if the form field labels are already clear.

Another issue is that users might mistake placeholders for pre-filled data. To fix this, add “e.g.” or “for example” before the placeholder and keep examples simple, like "[email protected]" for emails and "John Doe" for names.

You may also consider using floating labels, where the placeholder moves above the field when users click inside, keeping the guidance visible and accessible.