Utilizing the HTML textarea Element for Multi-Line Text Input
Jul 08, 2025 am 12:50 AMThe HTML <textarea> element is used for multi-line text input, offering features like default text, styling, and JavaScript interaction. 1. It allows users to enter multiple lines of text, unlike single-line input fields. 2. Default text can be set either as placeholder or editable content inside the tags. 3. Resizing behavior and appearance can be controlled using CSS properties like resize, font size, and padding. 4. JavaScript can access and manipulate textarea values, enabling real-time input handling and validation.
When you need users to enter multiple lines of text on a webpage—like comments, messages, or form responses—the HTML <textarea></textarea>
element is the go-to solution. It’s simple to use but offers enough flexibility for most basic and intermediate use cases.

Basic Usage and Structure
The <textarea></textarea>
tag creates a resizable text box where users can type in more than one line. Unlike input fields, which only accept single-line text, textareas are built for longer content.

Here's a minimal example:
<textarea name="message" id="message" cols="30" rows="10"></textarea>
cols
sets the width (number of characters visible)rows
defines how many lines tall it should be
These values are just starting points; styling with CSS usually gives better control over layout.

Setting Default Text
You can include placeholder text inside the <textarea>
tags, like so:
<textarea>Enter your message here...</textarea>
This text will appear by default and disappear when the user starts typing. However, if you want a non-editable hint, consider using the placeholder
attribute instead:
<textarea placeholder="Tell us what's on your mind..."></textarea>
One thing to note: the inner text and the placeholder serve different purposes. Placeholder text is temporary and disappears after focus, while default content stays until edited.
Styling and Resizing Options
By default, most browsers let users resize a textarea by dragging its corner. If you'd rather control that behavior, use the CSS resize
property:
textarea { resize: none; /* disables resizing */ }
Or limit resizing to vertical or horizontal directions:
resize: vertical;
resize: horizontal;
Styling goes beyond resizing. You can change font size, padding, borders, and more to match your design. Just remember to keep usability in mind—very small or oddly shaped text areas can frustrate users.
Handling Input with JavaScript
Textareas behave like other form elements, making them easy to work with via JavaScript. For example, you can access their value like this:
const myTextarea = document.getElementById('message'); console.log(myTextarea.value);
This comes in handy when validating forms or dynamically updating content. Want to count characters as the user types? Here’s a quick way:
myTextarea.addEventListener('input', function() { console.log(`Characters typed: ${this.value.length}`); });
If you're building something like a live preview or auto-saving form, reading from the textarea in real time becomes essential.
That’s the core of working with textareas. They’re straightforward but flexible enough for a variety of input needs. The key points—default text, styling options, and handling input—are all things to keep in mind depending on your specific use case.
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