Attached properties to the rescue:
public static class TextboxExtensions
{
public static readonly DependencyProperty PlaceholderProperty =
DependencyProperty.RegisterAttached(
"Placeholder",
typeof(string),
typeof(TextboxExtensions),
new PropertyMetadata(default(string), propertyChangedCallback: PlaceholderChanged)
);
private static void PlaceholderChanged(DependencyObject dependencyObject, DependencyPropertyChangedEventArgs args)
{
var tb = dependencyObject as TextBox;
if (tb == null)
return;
tb.LostFocus -= OnLostFocus;
tb.GotFocus -= OnGotFocus;
if (args.NewValue != null)
{
tb.GotFocus += OnGotFocus;
tb.LostFocus += OnLostFocus;
}
SetPlaceholder(dependencyObject, args.NewValue as string);
if (!tb.IsFocused)
ShowPlaceholder(tb);
}
private static void OnLostFocus(object sender, RoutedEventArgs routedEventArgs)
{
ShowPlaceholder(sender as TextBox);
}
private static void OnGotFocus(object sender, RoutedEventArgs routedEventArgs)
{
HidePlaceholder(sender as TextBox);
}
[AttachedPropertyBrowsableForType(typeof(TextBox))]
public static void SetPlaceholder(DependencyObject element, string value)
{
element.SetValue(PlaceholderProperty, value);
}
[AttachedPropertyBrowsableForType(typeof(TextBox))]
public static string GetPlaceholder(DependencyObject element)
{
return (string)element.GetValue(PlaceholderProperty);
}
private static void ShowPlaceholder(TextBox textBox)
{
if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(textBox.Text))
{
textBox.Text = GetPlaceholder(textBox);
}
}
private static void HidePlaceholder(TextBox textBox)
{
string placeholderText = GetPlaceholder(textBox);
if (textBox.Text == placeholderText)
textBox.Text = string.Empty;
}
}
Usage:
<TextBox Text="hi" local:TextboxExtensions.Placeholder="Hello there"></TextBox>