Textarea Element (Live Playground)
In this tutorial, we will discuss the textarea element in HTML forms. The textarea element is used to create a multi-line text input field that allows users to enter larger amounts of text, such as comments or descriptions.
Creating a Textarea
To create a textarea, simply use the <textarea> tag and provide a name attribute. The name attribute is essential for sending the entered text to the server when the form is submitted.
<label for="message">Your Message:</label> <textarea id="message" name="message"></textarea>
Setting Rows and Columns
By default, a textarea element will have a width and height determined by the browser. You can, however, define the number of visible rows and columns using the rows and cols attributes, respectively.
<textarea id="message" name="message" rows="5" cols="40"></textarea>
In this example, we have set the textarea to display 5 rows and 40 columns.
Placeholder Text
The placeholder attribute can be used to provide a short hint or description that is displayed in the textarea when it is empty.
<textarea id="message" name="message" rows="5" cols="40" placeholder="Enter your message here..."></textarea>
In this example, the placeholder text "Enter your message here..." will be displayed in the textarea when it is empty.
Additional Attributes
Required
The required attribute can be used to make the textarea a required field, meaning the form cannot be submitted without a value entered in the textarea.
<textarea id="message" name="message" rows="5" cols="40" required></textarea>
Readonly
The readonly attribute can be used to make the textarea read-only, meaning users cannot edit the content inside.
<textarea id="message" name="message" rows="5" cols="40" readonly>Your message cannot be edited.</textarea>
Conclusion
In this tutorial, we have explored the textarea element in HTML forms. By understanding how to create a textarea and use its attributes, you can provide users with a way to enter larger amounts of text in your forms.