# .NET MAUI Entry Text Appearance

The Entry provides a number of settings for configuring the appearance of the text it displays such as the text input itself, adding a watermark to the text, setting the Entry in its read-only state, and so on.

## Setting the Text Input

The following properties are related to the appearance and alignment of the text in the Entry control.

* `Text` (`string`)—Defines the text.
* `TextColor` (`Microsoft.Maui.Graphics`)—Defines the color of the visible text.
* `TextTransform` (`Microsoft.Maui.TextTransform`)—Defines the transformation of the text.
* `VerticalTextAlignment` (`Microsoft.Maui.TextAlignment`)—Specifies the vertical alignment of the text.
* `HorizontalTextAlignment` (`Microsoft.Maui.TextAlignment`)—Specifies the horizontal alignment of the text.

## Adding Placeholder

The Entry exposes the `Placeholder` (`string`) property that prompts users what information they are expected to enter in the text input. The placeholder text is displayed when the control is empty. Additionally, you can set the `PlaceholderColor`(`Color`) to customize the look of the watermark text as demonstrated in the following example.

```XAML
<telerikInput:RadEntry Placeholder="Enter text here"
					   PlaceholderColor="#6EA3FF" />
```

In the provided example:

```XAML
xmlns:telerik="http://schemas.telerik.com/2022/xaml/maui"
```

The following image shows the end result.

![Entry with Watermark](https://www.telerik.com/maui-ui/documentation/assets/f6887cb8e5353b3e748300c743cf24da/entry_getting_started.png)

## Password Functionality

The Telerik .NET MAUI Entry provides the `IsPassword` (`bool`) property. When set to `True`, it replaces the input with a password hint character. The default value is `False`.

```XAML
<telerik:RadEntry Placeholder="Enter password"
                  IsPassword="True">
</telerik:RadEntry>
```

## Setting the Read-Only State

You can choose whether the Entry control is editable for end users by setting its read-only state through the `IsReadOnly` (`bool`) property. By default, `IsReadOnly` is set to `False`. To restrict the control from editing, set the `IsReadOnly` to `True`.

```XAML
<telerik:RadEntry x:Name="telerikEntry"
				  Text="Telerik UI for .NET MAUI Entry control"
				  IsReadOnly="True" />
```

## Defining the Max Length

You can restrict the number of the symbols the Entry control allows for its input field by using the `MaxLength` (`int`) property.

The following example demonstrates how to set the maximum length of the input to 10 symbols.

```XAML
<telerik:RadEntry x:Name="telerikEntry"
				  Placeholder="Enter text"
				  MaxLength="10" />
```

## Setting Spacing Between the Characters

The `CharacterSpacing` (`double`) property allows you to define the space between the characters inside the control.

## Setting Text Prediction

* `IsTextPredictionEnabled` (`bool`) property allows you to define whether text prediction and automatic text correction are on or off. The default value is `False`.

```XAML
<telerik:RadEntry x:Name="entry"
				  IsTextPredictionEnabled="True"
				  Placeholder="Enter Text" />
```

## Setting the Keyboard Type

The `Keyboard` property of type `Microsoft.Maui.Keyboard` allows you to define the type of the keyboard that will be visualized by the device.

```XAML
<telerik:RadEntry x:Name="entry"
				  Keyboard="Numeric"
				  Placeholder="Enter Number" />
```

## Setting the Return Type

You can change the keyboard **return key type** using the `ReturnType`(`Microsoft.Maui.ReturnType`) property. The available options are `Default`,`Done`,`Go`,`Next`,`Search` and `Send`. The default return type is `Default`.

```XAML
<telerik:RadEntry Placeholder="Enter your idea" 
                  ReturnType="Send">
</telerik:RadEntry>
```

## Defining the Clear Button Visibility

The `ClearButtonVisibility` (`Microsoft.Maui.ClearButtonVisibility`) indicates when the clear button (the button that clears the text when pressed) can be displayed. The default value is `WhileEditing`.
If you want to hide the clear button while entering text inside the control, then set the `ClearButtonVisibility` to `Never`.

## See Also

* [Text Selection](https://www.telerik.com/maui-ui/documentation/controls/entry/text-selection)
* [Events](https://www.telerik.com/maui-ui/documentation/controls/entry/events)
* [Styling](https://www.telerik.com/maui-ui/documentation/controls/entry/styling)