In a Wordpress theme (using get_search_form()), how can I add placeholder text to the search box?

Question

I am trying to create a theme and I am displaying a search box in the header using:

<?php get_search_form(); ?>

Is there a way that I can get placeholder text to show in that box?

Answer 1

I ended up figuring out that if I don't have a file called "searchform.php" in my theme folder, Wordpress displays is default form that doesn't include any placeholder text:

<form role="search" method="get" id="searchform" action="<?php echo home_url( '/' ); ?>">
    <div><label class="screen-reader-text" for="s">Search for:</label>
        <input type="text" value="" name="s" id="s" />
        <input type="submit" id="searchsubmit" value="Search" />
    </div>
</form>

I created a new file called "searchform.php" in my theme folder and modified the default form to include the placeholder text:

<form role="search" method="get" id="searchform" action="<?php echo home_url( '/' ); ?>">
    <div>
        <input type="text" value="" name="s" id="s" placeholder="Search gear, clothing, & more.." />
        <input type="submit" id="searchsubmit" value="Search" />
    </div>
</form>

Answer 2

make searchform.php in theme folder and place that code in it

<form method="get" id="searchform" action="<?php bloginfo('url'); ?>">
<div>
<input class="text" type="text" value=" " name="s" id="s" />
<input type="submit" class="submit button" name="submit" value="<?php _e('Search');?>" />
</div>
</form>

Change whatever you want ! like class,placeholder,text any thing you want but not change like name, id and form attribute

Thanks