How can I decrease input height with floating labels?

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05-10-2024

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Taming the Tall Input: How to Shrink Input Fields with Floating Labels

Floating labels, those elegant text labels that rise above the input field when it gains focus, are a popular design choice. But they often come with a hidden cost: increased input height. This can lead to awkward spacing and less-than-ideal user experience, particularly on mobile devices.

This article will explore the problem of excessive input height with floating labels and offer solutions to reclaim that valuable vertical space.

The Problem:

Let's imagine a simple form with a text input field using floating labels:

<label for="email">Email:</label>
<input type="email" id="email" placeholder="Enter your email">

The default behavior is for the label to sit above the input field, even when it's empty, resulting in more vertical space than necessary.

Solutions to Shrink Input Height:

1. CSS Magic: The most common approach is using CSS to control the height of the input field.

   • line-height: Setting the line-height property of the input field to a value less than the default height can effectively reduce the vertical space occupied.

     input[type="email"] {
       line-height: 1.2; 
     }
     

   • padding: By adjusting the padding of the input field, you can fine-tune the spacing between the label and the input text.

     input[type="email"] {
       padding: 8px 10px; 
     }
     

   • height: Setting a fixed height for the input field can be helpful for consistent sizing across different browsers and devices.

     input[type="email"] {
       height: 30px; 
     }
     

2. Using :focus Pseudo-Class: To create a smoother user experience, you can adjust the height of the input field only when it gains focus:

   input[type="email"]:focus {
     height: 30px; 
   }
   

3. Leveraging JavaScript: For more dynamic control, JavaScript can be used to dynamically adjust the height of the input field based on its content. This method allows for a more flexible and responsive layout.

Example with JavaScript:

const input = document.getElementById('email');

input.addEventListener('focus', () => {
  input.style.height = '30px'; 
});

input.addEventListener('blur', () => {
  input.style.height = 'auto';
});

Best Practices:

• Consistency: Ensure consistency in input height across your entire form, as this improves the visual flow and user experience.
• Responsiveness: Consider how the input height looks across different screen sizes and devices, and make adjustments accordingly.
• Accessibility: Ensure that the input field remains accessible to users with disabilities, even after height adjustments.

Conclusion:

By implementing these techniques, you can achieve a more compact and user-friendly design while retaining the aesthetic appeal of floating labels. Remember to experiment with different methods and adjust the values according to your specific design requirements.