Form validation & default values

[eluser]antiver[/eluser]
I'm currently solving the problem using this code:

Code:

<?
function field_defaultvalue($field, $defaultvalue = '') {
    $ci =& get_instance();
    
    if(!isset($_POST[$field])) {
        return $defaultvalue;
    } else {
        return $ci->validation->$field;
    }
}
?>

<input type="text" name="search" value="<?=field_defaultvalue('search', 'Company, stock symbol...')?>">
<?=$this->validation->search_error?>

I hope there's a better way...