autocomplete, inputmode, and Placeholder

The autocomplete attribute tells the browser what kind of information a control expects. It can help browsers and password managers fill forms accurately.

<label for="name">Full name</label>
<input id="name" name="name" autocomplete="name">
<label for="email">Email</label>
<input id="email" name="email" type="email" autocomplete="email">
<label for="postal">Postal code</label>
<input id="postal" name="postalCode" autocomplete="postal-code" inputmode="numeric">

Use standard autocomplete tokens that match the information being collected. For account forms, values such as username, current-password, and new-password help password managers distinguish the purpose of fields.

inputmode is a hint about the virtual keyboard. It does not change the type of the control or validate the value. For example, inputmode="numeric" can request a numeric keyboard while keeping a value as text.

A placeholder is a short hint inside an empty control. It is not a replacement for a label, because it disappears when the visitor types and can have low contrast. Put important instructions outside the field and connect them with accessible descriptions when needed.