HTML <textarea> Tag
Example
A multi-line text input control (text area):
<label for="w3review">Review of W3Schools:</label>
<textarea id="w3review" name="w3review" rows="4" cols="50">
At w3schools.com you will learn how to make a website. They offer free tutorials in all web development technologies.
</textarea>
Try it Yourself »
More "Try it Yourself" examples below.
Definition and Usage
The <textarea> tag defines a multi-line text input control.
The <textarea> element is often used in a form, to collect user inputs like comments or reviews.
A text area can hold an unlimited number of characters, and the text renders in a fixed-width font (usually Courier).
The size of a text area is specified by the cols and rows attributes (or with CSS).
The 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).
The id attribute is needed to associate the text area with a label.
Tip: Always add the <label> tag for best accessibility practices!
Browser Support
| Element | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| <textarea> | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Attributes
| Attribute | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| autofocus | autofocus | Specify that a text area should automatically get focus when the page loads |
| cols | number | Specify the visible width of a text area |
| dirname | textareaname.dir | Specify that the text direction of the textarea will be submitted |
| disabled | disabled | Specify that a text area should be disabled |
| form | form_id | Specifies which form the text area belongs to |
| maxlength | number | Specify the maximum number of characters allowed in the text area |
| name | text | Specifies a name for a text area |
| placeholder | text | Specifies a short hint that describes the expected value of a text area |
| readonly | readonly | Specify that a text area should be read-only |
| required | required | Specify that a text area is required/must be filled out |
| rows | number | Specify the visible number of lines in a text area |
| wrap | hard soft |
Specify how the text in a text area is to be wrapped when submitted in a form |
Global Attributes
The <textarea> tag also supports the Global Attributes in HTML.
Event Attributes
The <textarea> tag also supports the Event Attributes in HTML.
More Examples
Example
Disable default resize option:
<html>
<head>
<style>
textarea {
resize: none;
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<label for="w3review">Review of W3Schools:</label>
<textarea id="w3review" name="w3review" rows="4" cols="50">
At w3schools you will learn how to make a website. They offer free tutorials in all web development technologies.
</textarea>
</body>
</html>
Try it Yourself »
Related Pages
HTML DOM reference: Textarea Object
CSS Tutorial: Styling Forms
Default CSS Settings
None.
