HTML Reference Manual

Complete list of HTML tags

HTML: <textarea> tag

The HTML <textarea> element represents a multi-line plain text editing control. Both the start and end tags cannot be omitted.

Online example

An HTML textarea:

Example

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>　
<meta charset="utf-8">　
<title>Basic Tutorial(oldtoolbag.com)</title>　
</head>
<body>
<textarea name="textarea" rows="10" cols="50">Write something here</textarea>
</body>
</html>

Test and see ‹/›

Browser compatibility

IEFirefoxOperaChromeSafari

All mainstream browsers support the <textarea> tag.

Definition and usage instructions

The <textarea> tag defines a multi-line text input control.

The textarea can contain an unlimited number of texts, and the default font of the text within is a monospaced font (usually Courier).

The size of the textarea can be specified using the cols and rows attributes, but a better approach is to use CSS's height and width properties.

HTML 4.01 with HTML5differences

HTML5 Added some new properties.

Attribute

New: HTML5 new attributes.

Attribute	Value	Description
autofocusHTML5	autofocus	Specifies that the text area automatically receives focus when the page is loaded.
cols	number	Specifies the visible width of the text area.
disabled	disabled	Specifies that the text area is disabled.
formHTML5	form_id	Defines one or more forms that the text area belongs to.
maxlengthHTML5	number	Specifies the maximum number of characters allowed in the text area.
name	text	Specifies the name of the text area.
placeholderHTML5	text	Specifies a short hint that describes the expected value for the text area.
readonly	readonly	Specifies that the text area is read-only.
requiredHTML5	required	Specifies that the text area is required./Required.
rows	number	Specifies the number of visible lines in the text area.
wrapHTML5	hard soft	Specifies how the text in the text area should be wrapped when the form is submitted.

Global Attributes

<textarea> tag supports HTML Global Attributes.

Event Attributes

<textarea> tag supports HTML Event Attributes.

HTML DOM Reference Manual:Textarea Object

HTML: <tfoot> tag HTML: <td> tag