The
<textarea>tag is used to create a multi-line text input field in a form.
Unlike the<input type="text">field, which is single-line,<textarea>allows users to enter large blocks of text, like comments, feedback, or messages.
Syntax
<textarea name="message" rows="4" cols="50" placeholder="Enter your message here" required></textarea>Attributes
| Attribute | Description |
|---|---|
| name | Name of the textarea used for form submission. |
| rows | Number of visible text lines. |
| cols | Width of the textarea in character columns. |
| placeholder | Hint text displayed inside the textarea when empty. |
| required | Makes the field mandatory. |
| readonly | Makes the textarea non-editable. |
| disabled | Disables the textarea entirely. |
| maxlength | Maximum number of characters allowed. |
| wrap | Specifies how the text should wrap (soft, hard). |
| autofocus | Automatically focuses on the textarea when page loads. |
Example
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
<title>Textarea Example</title>
</head>
<body>
<h2>Feedback Form</h2>
<form action="/samples/form_processor.php" method="post">
<label for="feedback">Your Feedback:</label><br>
<textarea id="feedback" name="feedback" rows="5" cols="50" placeholder="Enter your feedback here" required></textarea><br><br>
<input type="submit" value="Submit Feedback">
</form>
</body>
</html>Output
Browser Output
You will see a multi-line text box where users can type long messages or feedback.
The placeholder text guides the user, and the textarea enforces the number of visible rows and columns.
Try it in our TryIt Editor to see how resizing and typing works.
Browser Support
 Chrome |  Firefox |  Edge |  Safari |  Opera |  IE9+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ✅Yes | ✅Yes | ✅Yes | ✅Yes | ✅Yes | ✅Yes |
All major browser supports <textarea> tag
Notes
<textarea>allows for multi-line user input, unlike<input type="text">.- Always use
<label>for accessibility. - Combine with
maxlengthorwrapto control input length and display. - You can set default text by placing content between the opening and closing
<textarea>tags.
Conclusion
The <textarea> tag is essential for collecting long-form user input on web pages.
It provides flexibility for messages, comments, and feedback forms, and works consistently across modern browsers.
