As a software platform, ServiceNow has a great and modern GUI that works with any web browser. Yet there is one glaring missing UI feature from modern HTML: HTML Placeholders. Let me present you my ninj’admin trick to implement them in your instance.

What are HTML Placeholders?

Placeholders are the ghost texts present in many web sites’ input fields. They are an old trick, introduced with the HTML5 standard in mid 2011.

The most common usage is with Search input fields.

As soon as you type something in the box, the placeholder text will disappear, to be replaced by your own input. Used in the Service Catalog, or in your Forms, they can add useful information without being obnoxious for the users.

ServiceNow current help system for the Service Catalog is way more obnoxious to my liking. Placeholders are way better design-wise.

Native support in Jakarta Service Catalog

In Jakarta, HTML Placeholders can only be configured for for Service Catalog variables via the field “Example Text” that you’ll have to add to the Variable Form. You can only apply them to: Single Line, Text, Wide Single Line Text, Multi Line Text, IP Address, Email, URL, Date, Date/Time.

In Jakarta, there is no native function to add HTML Placeholder to your forms outside Service Catalog Variable.