Field labels do more than inform—they shape how users scan and complete forms. Every additional eye movement to scan the labels increases cognitive load and slows completion.
With top-aligned labels, every field requires two fixations: one to the label, one to the input. This doubles the work the user's eyes must do for each field. With floating labels, the eye uses a single fixation for both the label and the input, reducing friction and enabling a smoother scan.
