HTML Tags

HTML <textarea> Tag

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

html

<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

html

<!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

html

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	Edge	Firefox	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 maxlength or wrap to 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.

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