Tag <textarea> HTML Reference



Example

An HTML text area:

<textarea rows="3" cols="20">
A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world.
</textarea>

Browser Support

Internet Explorer Firefox Opera Google Chrome Safari

1. Definition and Usage

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

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.


2. Differences Between HTML and XHTML

None


3. Required Attributes

DTD indicates in which HTML 4.01/XHTML 1.0 DTD the attribute is allowed. S=Strict, T=Transitional, and F=Frameset.

AttributeValueDescriptionDTD
colsnumberSpecifies the visible width of a text areaSTF
rowsnumberSpecifies the visible number of lines in a text areaSTF

4. Optional Attributes

AttributeValueDescriptionDTD
disableddisabledSpecifies that a text area should be disabledSTF
nametextSpecifies the name for a text areaSTF
readonlyreadonlySpecifies that a text area should be read-onlySTF

5. Standard Attributes

The <textarea> tag supports the following standard attributes:

AttributeValueDescriptionDTD
accesskeycharacterSpecifies a keyboard shortcut to access an elementSTF
classclassnameSpecifies a classname for an elementSTF
dirrtl
ltr
Specifies the text direction for the content in an elementSTF
ididSpecifies a unique id for an elementSTF
langlanguage_codeSpecifies a language code for the content in an elementSTF
stylestyle_definitionSpecifies an inline style for an elementSTF
tabindexnumberSpecifies the tab order of an elementSTF
titletextSpecifies extra information about an elementSTF
xml:langlanguage_codeSpecifies a language code for the content in an element, in XHTML documentsSTF

6. Event Attributes

The <textarea> tag supports the following event attributes:

AttributeValueDescriptionDTD
onblurscriptScript to be run when an element loses focusSTF
onchangescriptScript to be run when an element changeSTF
onclickscriptScript to be run on a mouse clickSTF
ondblclickscriptScript to be run on a mouse double-clickSTF
onfocusscriptScript to be run when an element gets focusSTF
onmousedownscriptScript to be run when mouse button is pressedSTF
onmousemovescriptScript to be run when mouse pointer movesSTF
onmouseoutscriptScript to be run when mouse pointer moves out of an elementSTF
onmouseoverscriptScript to be run when mouse pointer moves over an elementSTF
onmouseupscriptScript to be run when mouse button is releasedSTF
onkeydownscriptScript to be run when a key is pressedSTF
onkeypressscriptScript to be run when a key is pressed and releasedSTF
onkeyupscriptScript to be run when a key is releasedSTF
onselectscriptScript to be run when an element is selectedSTF

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