Dynamically Adjust HTML Text Input Width to Content

Question

I can't quite find a clear answer on this, and excuse me if there is one I've missed.

I want my text input widths to automatically adjust to the size of the content within them. First with placeholder text than the actual text someone inputs.

I've created the below as an example. Currently, the boxes are far bigger than my placeholder text, causing huge amounts of white space, and it's obviously the same thing when I type in something.

I've tried width auto, some jQuery, and twine and bubble gum I found on the internet. But nothing has worked yet. Any thoughts? Thanks!

HTML:

<span><p>Hello, my name is </p></span>

<span><input type="text" id="input" class="form" placeholder="name"></span>

<span><p>. I am </p></span>

<span><input type="text" id="input" class="form" placeholder="age"></span>

    <span><p> years old.</p></span>

CSS:

.form {
    border: 0;
    text-align: center;
    outline: none;
}

span {
    display: inline-block;
}

p {
    font-family: arial;
}

Fiddle

Answer 1

One possible way:

[contenteditable=true]:empty:before {
  content: attr(placeholder);
  color:gray;
}
/* found this online --- it prevents the user from being able to make a (visible) newline */
[contenteditable=true] br{
  display:none;
}

<p>Hello, my name is <span id="name" contenteditable="true" placeholder="name"></span>. I am <span id="age" contenteditable="true" placeholder="age"></span> years old.</p>

Source for CSS: http://codepen.io/flesler/pen/AEIFc.

You'll have to do some trickery to pick up the values if you need the values for a form.