formstext

Formstext refers to the textual content associated with form elements in digital interfaces. The term is often used in German-language design discussions but applies broadly to all text that accompanies and guides data entry in forms, including field labels, placeholders, helper text, error messages, and action captions.

In practice, formstext should be concise, clear, and consistent. Labels should be visible and descriptive, placeholders should not replace labels, and helper text should provide optional guidance. Error and validation messages should be specific and actionable to aid users in correcting input.

Accessibility considerations are central to formstext. Text should be readable by assistive technologies, with proper associations between controls and their descriptive text, typically using aria-describedby or labeled elements, and with messages that remain accessible when errors occur.

Content management and localization concerns involve storing formstext separately from the form structure so it can be reused across forms and translated into multiple languages. This approach supports consistency and efficient updates in large-scale applications.

Examples of formstext include a field label such as "Email address," a placeholder like "[email protected]," helper text such as "We will never share your email," and a validation message such as "Enter a valid email address."