HTML <textarea> tag

Definition

The <textarea> tag is used to define used to define a multiple line area for text input.

Use the <label> HTML tag to give the textarea control a description and to aid accessibility.

Example


<p><label for="pies">Who ate all the pies?</label></p>
<textarea id="pies" name="pies" rows="3" cols="30" placeholder="pie description.."></textarea>

Who ate all the pies?

Attributes

The following attributes can be used with the <textarea> tag.

<textarea> Specific Attributes
Attribute	Value	Description	Example
`autofocus`	empty string or autofocus	Gives focus to this text area on page load.	`<textarea rows="3" cols="30" autofocus></textarea> <textarea rows="3" cols="30" autofocus="autofocus"></textarea>`
`cols`	number	Specifies the character width of the text area. Default value is 20.	`<textarea rows="3" cols="30"></textarea>`
`dirname`	form id	Specifies the direction of the text entered in the input field. Not supported in Firefoxx.	`<textarea rows="3" cols="30" dirname="someText"></textarea>`
`disabled`	empty string or disabled	Specifies this text area will be disabled until a certain condition occurs.	`<textarea rows="3" cols="30" disabled></textarea> <textarea rows="3" cols="30" disabled="disabled"></textarea>`
`form`	form id	Specifies the form that the text area belongs to	`<textarea rows="3" cols="30" form="someForm"></textarea>`
`maxlength`	number	Specifies the maximum character length of the text area.	`<textarea rows="3" cols="30" maxlength="50"></textarea>`
`name`	name	Specifies a name for the text area.	`<textarea rows="3" cols="30" name="name"></textarea>`
`placeholder`	name	Specifies a reminder (word or phrase) to aid with data entry.	`<textarea rows="3" cols="30" placeholder="reminder"></textarea>`
`readonly`	empty string or readonly	Specifies that a text area is protected and not modifiable.	`<textarea rows="3" cols="30" readonly></textarea> <textarea rows="3" cols="30" readonly="readonly"></textarea>`
`required`	empty string or required	Specifies that a text area is required and needs to be populated.	`<textarea rows="3" cols="30" required></textarea> <textarea rows="3" cols="30" required="required"></textarea>`
`rows`	number	Specifies the character height of the text area. Default value is 2.	`<textarea rows="3" cols="30"></textarea>`
`wrap`	`hard` or `soft`	Specifies how the text area is wrapped on form submission.	`<textarea rows="3" cols="30" wrap="hard"></textarea>`

<textarea> Global Attributes
Attribute	Description	Example
Common
`class`	Specifies a classname for the element allowing you to apply the style of the predefined class to the content.	`<textarea class="name">`
`id`	Specifies a unique id for the element allowing you to apply the style of the predefined id to the content.	`<textarea id="name">`
`style`	Specifies an inline style for the element allowing you to apply the style to the contentt.	`<textarea style="color:red;">`
`title`	Specifies an inline style for the element allowing you to apply the style to the content.	`<textarea title="Content info">`
Keyboard
`accesskey`	Specifies a keyboard shortcut to associate with the element.	`<textarea accesskey="a">`
`tabindex`	Specifies a tab order for the element.	`<textarea tabindex="1">`
Language
`dir`	Specifies the directional flow of the content.	`<!-- The text will flow from left to right --> <textarea dir="ltr"> <!-- The text will flow from right to left --> <textarea dir="rtl">`
`lang`	Specifies a language code for the content of the element.	`<textarea lang="en">`
`spellcheck`	Specifies an inline style for the element allowing you to apply the style to the contentt.	`<!-- Valid values true and false. --> <!-- Default inherited / browser specific. --> <textarea spellcheck="true">`
`translate`	Specifies an inline style for the element allowing you to apply the style to the content.	`<!-- Valid values yes and no. --> <!-- Default yes. --> <textarea translate="no">`
Miscellaneous
`contenteditable`	Specifies whether the content of the element is editable.	`<!-- Valid values true and false. --> <!-- Default inherited. --> <textarea contenteditable="true">`
`draggable`	Specifies whether the element is draggable.	`<!-- Valid values true and false. --> <!-- Default browser specific. --> <textarea draggable="true">`
`hidden`	Specifies whether the element is not yet, or no longer, relevant.	`<!-- Valid values an empty string or hidden --> <textarea hidden> <textarea hidden="hidden">`

<textarea> Event Attributes
Attribute	Description	Example
Document Element
`oncopy`	The script to be run when the user copies the content of an element.	`<!-- Executes go() function --> <textarea oncopy="go()">`
`oncut`	The script to be run when the user cuts the content of an element.	`<!-- Executes go() function --> <textarea oncut="go()">`
`onpaste`	The script to be run when the user pastes some content into an element.	`<!-- Executes go() function --> <textarea onpaste="go()">`
Drag and Drop
`ondrag`	The script to be run when an element is dragged.	`<!-- Executes go() function --> <textarea ondrag="go()">`
`ondragend`	The script to be run when an element has stopped being dragged.	`<!-- Executes go() function --> <textarea ondragend="go()">`
`ondragenter`	The script to be run when an element has been dragged to a valid drop target.	`<!-- Executes go() function --> <textarea ondragenter="go()">`
`ondragleave`	The script to be run when an element leaves a valid drop target.	`<!-- Executes go() function --> <textarea ondragleave="go()">`
`ondragover`	The script to be run when an element is being dragged over a valid drop target.	`<!-- Executes go() function --> <textarea ondragover="go()">`
`ondragstart`	The script to be run at the start of a drag operation.	`<!-- Executes go() function --> <textarea ondragstart="go()">`
`ondrop`	The script to be run when a dragged element is being dropped.	`<!-- Executes go() function --> <textarea ondrop="go()">`
Form
`onblur`	The script to be run when the element loses focus.	`<!-- Executes go() function --> <textarea onblur="go()">`
`onchange`	The script to be run when object changed and attempt to leave field.	`<!-- Executes go() function --> <textarea onchange="go()">`
`oncontextmenu`	The script to be run when a context menu is triggered.	`<!-- Executes go() function --> <textarea oncontextmenu="go()">`
`onfocus`	The script to be run when the element gets focus.	`<!-- Executes go() function --> <textarea onfocus="go()">`
`oninput`	The script to be run when an element gets user input.	`<!-- Executes go() function --> <textarea oninput="go()">`
`oninvalid`	The script to be run when an element is invalid.	`<!-- Executes go() function --> <textarea oninvalid="go()">`
`onreset`	The script to be run when a dragged element is being dropped.	`<!-- Executes go() function --> <textarea onreset="go()">`
`onselect`	The script to be run when some or all of the contents of an object are selected.	`<!-- Executes go() function --> <textarea onselect="go()">`
`onsubmit`	The script to be run when a form is submitted.	`<!-- Executes go() function --> <textarea onsubmit="go()">`
Keyboard
`onkeydown`	The script to be run when an element is in focus and keyboard key is pressed down.	`<!-- Executes go() function --> <textarea onkeydown="go()">`
`onkeypress`	The script to be run when an element is in focus and keyboard key is pressed down and released.	`<!-- Executes go() function --> <textarea onkeypress="go()">`
`onkeyup`	The script to be run when an element is in focus and keyboard key is released.	`<!-- Executes go() function --> <textarea onkeyup="go()">`
Media
`onabort`	The script code to be run on abort.	`<!-- Executes go() function --> <textarea onabort="go()">`
`oncanplay`	The script to be run when a file has buffered enough so it is ready to start playing.	`<!-- Executes go() function --> <textarea oncanplay="go()">`
`oncanplaythrough`	The script to be run when a file can be played all the way to the end without further need of buffering.	`<!-- Executes go() function --> <textarea oncanplaythrough="go()">`
`oncuechange`	The script to be run when the cue changes when using the `track` element.	`<!-- Executes go() function --> <textarea oncuechange="go()">`
`ondurationchange`	The script to be run when the length of the media is changed.	`<!-- Executes go() function --> <textarea ondurationchange="go()">`
`onemptied`	The script to be run when a media resource element suddenly becomes empty, usually due to an error.	`<!-- Executes go() function --> <textarea onemptied="go()">`
`onended`	The script to be run when the media has reach the end.	`<!-- Executes go() function --> <textarea onended="go()">`
`onloadeddata`	The script to be run when media data is loaded and playback can start.	`<!-- Executes go() function --> <textarea onloadeddata="go()">`
`onloadedmetadata`	The script to be run when metadata has been loaded.	`<!-- Executes go() function --> <textarea onloadedmetadata="go()">`
`onloadstart`	The script to be run whenthe media resource has started loading.	`<!-- Executes go() function --> <textarea onloadstart="go()">`
`onpause`	The script to be run when the media resource has been paused.	`<!-- Executes go() function --> <textarea onpause="go()">`
`onplay`	The script to be run when the media resource starts playback.	`<!-- Executes go() function --> <textarea onplay="go()">`
`onplaying`	The script to be run when when playback has already begun.	`<!-- Executes go() function --> <textarea onplaying="go()">`
`onprogress`	The script to be run when the browser is fetching the media data.	`<!-- Executes go() function --> <textarea onprogress="go()">`
`onratechange`	The script to be run when the playback rate changes.	`<!-- Executes go() function --> <textarea onratechange="go()">`
`onseeked`	The script to be run when the seeking attribute is set to false indicating that seeking has finished.	`<!-- Executes go() function --> <textarea onseeked="go()">`
`onseeking`	The script to be run when the seeking attribute is set to true indicating that seeking is currently active.	`<!-- Executes go() function --> <textarea onseeking="go()">`
`onstalled`	The script to be run when the browser is unable to continue fetching media data.	`<!-- Executes go() function --> <textarea onstalled="go()">`
`onsuspend`	The script to be run when media data has stopped before being completely loaded.	`<!-- Executes go() function --> <textarea onsuspend="go()">`
`ontimeupdate`	The script to be run when the media resources current playback position has changed.	`<!-- Executes go() function --> <textarea ontimeupdate="go()">`
`onvolumechange`	The script to be run when the volume has changed or been muted.	`<!-- Executes go() function --> <textarea onvolumechange="go()">`
`onwaiting`	The script to be run when the media resource has paused but is expected to resume.	`<!-- Executes go() function --> <textarea onwaiting="go()">`
Mouse
`onclick`	The script to be run when when a mouse is clicked on an element.	`<!-- Executes go() function --> <textarea onclick="go()">`
`ondblclick`	The script to be run when a mouse is double clicked on an element.	`<!-- Executes go() function --> <textarea ondblclick="go()">`
`onmousedown`	The script to be run when he mouse button is pressed down while the cursor is over an element.	`<!-- Executes go() function --> <textarea onmousedown="go()">`
`onmousemove`	The script to be run when the mouse button is moved.	`<!-- Executes go() function --> <textarea onmousemove="go()">`
`onmouseout`	The script to be run when the mouse cursor moves off an element.	`<!-- Executes go() function --> <textarea onmouseout="go()">>`
`onmouseover`	The script to be run when the mouse cursor moves over an element.	`<!-- Executes go() function --> <textarea onmouseover="go()">`
`onmouseup`	The script to be run when the mouse button is released while the cursor is over the element.	`<!-- Executes go() function --> <textarea onmouseup="go()">`
`onwheel`	The script to be run when the mouse wheel rolls up or down over an element.	`<!-- Executes go() function --> <textarea onwheel="go()">`
Scroll
`onscroll`	The script code to be run when the scrollbar of an element is being scrolled.	`<!-- Executes go() function --> <textarea onscroll="go()">`
Window - NONE

HTML <textarea> tag

Definition

Example

Attributes

Relevant HTML Tutorials

HTML4 Tags

HTML5 Tags

CSS Visual Properties

CSS Aural Properties

CSS Other

HTML Tags