HTML <textarea> (Multiline Text Input) Tag
Example
<form action="action.php">
<textarea name="textareaText">Hello world!</textarea>
<input type="submit" value="Submit">
</form>Meaning
The <textarea> element specifies a multiline text input field contained within a form.
A text area can hold an unlimited number of characters, and the text renders in a fixed-width font (usually Courier).
Any text between the <textarea> and </textarea> tags is rendered as the default entry for the form control. Content within a textarea element is not interpreted, so white space is preserved and tags themselves are ignored.
Note: A <textarea> tag cannot be a descendent of an <a>a (anchor) or <button> element.
Version: HTML 2, 3.2, 4, 4.01, 5
Standard Syntax
<textarea cols="number" rows="number">...</textarea>Browser Support
Status
Attributes
| Attribute | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| autocapitalize | none sentences words characters |
Specifies the text value should be automatically capitalized as it is entered/edited by the user. |
| autocomplete | off on |
Specifies that the textarea should automatically get completed when the document is loaded. |
| autofocus | autofocus | Specifies that the textarea should automatically get focus when the document is loaded. |
| cols | number | Specifies the expected maximum number of characters per line. by default, it is 20. |
| dirname | uniqueName.dir | Specifies the submission of the text direction of the textarea |
| disabled | disabled | This boolean attribute disables the textarea for user input or interaction. |
| form | formId | Specifies the form that the textarea is associated with i.e. its "form owner". |
| maxlength | number | Specifies the maximum number of characters that the user can enter in the textarea. |
| minlength | number | Specifies the minimum number of characters required that the user should enter in the textarea. |
| name | unique-name | Specifies a name to the textarea control. |
| placeholder | text | Specifies the user of what can be entered in the textarea. Placeholder text must not contain line breaks. |
| readonly | readonly | Specifies that the user cannot modify the value of the textarea control (i.e. read-only). |
| required | required | Specifies that the user must fill in a value before submitting the form. |
| spellcheck | default false true |
Specifies whether the <textarea> is subject to spell checking by the underlying browser/OS. |
| rows | number | Specifies the visible width in average character widths. |
| wrap | hard soft |
Specifies how the value of the textarea is to be wrapped for form submission. |
Global Attributes
The <textarea> element also supports the Global Attributes in HTML.
Event Attributes
The <textarea> element also supports the Event Attributes in HTML.
By Default CSS Value(s)
None.