---
title: "getByPlaceholder(placeholder[, options]) | Grafana k6 documentation"
description: "Browser module: locator.getByPlaceholder(placeholder[, options]) method"
---

# getByPlaceholder(placeholder\[, options])

Returns a locator for input elements with the specified `placeholder` attribute. This method is useful for locating form fields that use `placeholder` attribute to provide hints or examples to users about the expected input format.

Expand table

| Parameter       | Type             | Default | Description                                                                                                        |
|-----------------|------------------|---------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| `placeholder`   | string \| RegExp | \-      | Required. The placeholder text to search for. Can be a string for exact match or a RegExp for pattern matching.    |
| `options`       | object           | `null`  |                                                                                                                    |
| `options.exact` | boolean          | `false` | Whether to match the placeholder text exactly with case sensitivity. When `true`, performs a case-sensitive match. |

## Returns

Expand table

| Type                                                        | Description                                                                                                    |
|-------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| [Locator](/docs/k6/next/javascript-api/k6-browser/locator/) | A locator object that can be used to interact with the input elements matching the specified placeholder text. |

## Example

Find and fill inputs by their placeholder text:

JavaScript ![Copy code to clipboard](/media/images/icons/icon-copy-small-2.svg) Copy

```javascript
import { browser } from 'k6/browser';

export const options = {
  scenarios: {
    browser: {
      executor: 'shared-iterations',
      options: {
        browser: {
          type: 'chromium',
        },
      },
    },
  },
};

export default async function () {
  const page = await browser.newPage();

  try {
    await page.setContent(`
      <input type="text" placeholder="First name">
      <input type="text" placeholder="Last name">
      <input type="text" placeholder="dd/mm/yyyy">
      <input type="text" placeholder="your.email@example.com">
      <input type="text" placeholder="+1 (555) 123-4567">
    `);

    const locator = page.locator(':root');
    await locator.getByPlaceholder('First name').fill('First');
    await locator.getByPlaceholder('Last name').fill('Last');
    await locator.getByPlaceholder('dd/mm/yyyy').fill('01/01/1990');

    await locator.getByPlaceholder('your.email@example.com').fill('first.last@example.com');
    await locator.getByPlaceholder('+1 (555) 123-4567').fill('+1 (555) 987-6543');
  } finally {
    await page.close();
  }
}
```

## Common use cases

- **Form field identification:**
  
  - Login and registration forms without explicit labels
  - Quick search boxes
  - Filter and input controls
  - Comment and feedback forms
- **E-commerce:**
  
  - Product search bars
  - Quantity input fields
  - Promo code entry
  - Address and payment information
- **Interactive applications:**
  
  - Chat input fields
  - Command input interfaces
  - Settings and configuration forms
  - Data entry applications

## Best practices

1. **Complement, don’t replace labels**: Placeholder text should supplement, not replace proper form labels for accessibility.
2. **Use descriptive placeholders**: Ensure placeholder text clearly indicates the expected input format or content.
3. **Consider internationalization**: When testing multi-language applications, be aware that placeholder text may change.
4. **Accessibility considerations**: Remember that placeholder text alone may not be sufficient for users with disabilities.

## Related

- [locator.getByRole()](/docs/k6/next/javascript-api/k6-browser/locator/getbyrole/) - Locate by ARIA role
- [locator.getByAltText()](/docs/k6/next/javascript-api/k6-browser/locator/getbyalttext/) - Locate by alt text
- [locator.getByLabel()](/docs/k6/next/javascript-api/k6-browser/locator/getbylabel/) - Locate by form labels (preferred for accessibility)
- [locator.getByTestId()](/docs/k6/next/javascript-api/k6-browser/locator/getbytestid/) - Locate by test ID
- [locator.getByTitle()](/docs/k6/next/javascript-api/k6-browser/locator/getbytitle/) - Locate by title attribute
- [locator.getByText()](/docs/k6/next/javascript-api/k6-browser/locator/getbytext/) - Locate by visible text