HTML Tags - Text Area Tag

What is the HTML <textarea> tag ?

HTML <textarea> tag is used for create multi-line text input.

HTML <textarea> element is often used in a form, to collect user inputs like comments or reviews.

HTML <textarea> size is specified by the <cols> and <rows> attributes.

HTML <textarea> size can also be defined through CSS height and width properties.

How HTML <textarea> tag works ?

HTML <textarea> element represents a multi-line plain-text editing control.

HTML <textarea> can hold an unlimited number of characters and the texts are displayed in a fixed-width font (usually courier).

By default browsers has render the <textarea> element texts in a monospace or fixed-width font.

“name” attribute is needed to reference the form data after the form is submitted (if you omit the name attribute, no data from the text area will be submitted).

“id” attribute is needed to associate the text area with a label.

Note : Always add the <label> tag for best accessibility practices!

Why is HTML <textarea> tag used ?

HTML <textarea> is mostly used inside the <form> tag.

HTML <textarea> is useful to allowing users to enter a sizeable amount of free-form text in Webpages.

For example a comment box on a review or feedback form.

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Syntax :

<textarea>....</textarea>

Example :

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
        <title>textarea tag</title>
        <style>
                h1,
                h2 {
                        color: blue;
                        font-style: italic;
                }

                body {
                        text-align: left;
                }
        </style>
</head>
<body>
        <h1>Welcome to CSTechbook</h1>
        <h2>HTML Textarea tag </h2>
        <form action="#">
                <textarea 
                        rows="7"
                        cols="50"
                        name="comment">
		</textarea><br />
                <input type="submit">
        </form>
</body>
</html>

Output :

<textarea> Tag Attributes

HTML <textarea> tag support following specific attributes.

Sno	Attributes	Value	Description
1	autofocus	autofocus	Specifies that a `<textarea>` should be focus automatically when the page loads.
2	cols	number	Specifies the visible width of the `<textarea>` element.
3	dirname	textareaname.dir	Specifies text direction of `<textarea>` element when will submitted the form.
4	disabled	disabled	Specifies that `<textarea>` element should be disabled.
5	form	form_id	Specifies one or more forms that associate with `<textarea>` element.
6	maxlength	number	Specifies the maximum number of characters allowed in the `<textarea>` element.
7	name	text	Specifies the name for `<textarea>` element.
8	placeholder	text	Specifies short hint that describe to the user of what value should be enter in the `<textarea>` element.
9	readonly	readonly	Specifies that `<textarea>` element should be read-only, user can not modify it.
10	required	required	Specifies that user is required to filled `<textarea>` field before submitting the form.
11	rows	number	Specifies the number of visible lines in the `<textarea>` element.
12	wrap	hard soft	Specifies how the text in the `<textarea>` should be wrap to the next line..

Global Attributes

HTML <textarea> tag support following global attributes.

Sno	Attributes	Value	Description
1	id	unique_name	Declared unique id for an element.
2	class	class_name	Declared one or more classnames for an element.
3	style	styles	CSS inline styles specify an element.
4	title	title	Specify extra details of element contain, this will display as a “tooltip” for an elements.

Event Attributes

HTML <textarea> tag support following event attributes.

Sno	Attributes	Value	Description
1	onfocus	script	element gets focus on object when script tobe run.
2	onblur	script	element lose the focus on object when scrip tobe run.
3	onabort	script	element gets aborted on object when script tobe run.
4	onchange	script	element gets anytime change on object when script tobe run.
5	onbeforeunload	script	element gets unloaded on object when scrip tobe run.
6	onclick	script	clicked on object when script tobe run.
7	ondblclick	script	double click on object when script tobe run.
8	onkeydown	script	key is pressed when script tobe run.
9	onkeypress	script	key is pressed over element then released when script tobe run.
10	onkeyup	script	key is released over element when script tobe run.
11	onmousedown	script	mouse button was pressed over an element when script tobe run.
12	onmouseout	script	mouse pointer release over an element when script tobe run.
13	onmousemove	script	run mouse pointer moved when script tobe run.
14	onmouseover	script	run mouse pointer move over when script tobe run.
15	onmouseup	script	mouse button is released when script tobe run.
16	onreset	script	form has been reset when script tobe run.
17	onselect	script	Select some content when script tobe run.
18	onsubmit	script	form has been submitted when script tobe run.
19	onload	script	object has load when script tobe run.
20	onchange	script	allow to change the object when script tobe run.
21	onunload	script	unload to the browser window when script tobe run.
22	ondrag	script	element being dragged when script tobe run.
23	ondragend	script	element being stop dragged when script tobe run.
24	ondragenter	script	element being go target dragged when script tobe run.
25	ondragleave	script	element being leave to target dragged when script tobe run.
26	ondragover	script	element being over to target dragged when script tobe run.
27	ondragstart	script	element being start dragged when script tobe run.
28	ondrop	script	element being dropped when script tobe run.
29	onerror	script	element error occurs when script tobe run.
30	onmessage	script	element message display when script tobe run.
31	onerror	script	element error occurs when script tobe run.
32	onmousewheel	script	mouse wheel will be rotate when script tobe run.
33	onscroll	script	scrollbar is scroll when script tobe run.
34	onresize	script	element should be resize when script tobe run.
35	onselect	script	all element content selected when script tobe run.
36	onstorage	script	element should be store in target when script tobe run.

Browser Compatibility

Sno	Browser	Support
1	Chrome	Yes
2	Firefox	Yes
3	Edge	Yes
4	Opera	Yes
5	Safari	Yes
6	Internet Explorer	Yes