What Is the Correct HTML for Making a Textarea?

In HTML, a textarea is an input field used to collect multi-line text from users. It’s ideal for comments, feedback forms, long-form input, and message boxes. Unlike standard input fields, which are limited to a single line, a textarea allows users to type large amounts of content freely.

So, what is the correct HTML for making a textarea?

Table of Contents

✅ The Answer: The `<textarea>` Element

To create a textarea in HTML, you use the <textarea> tag. Unlike <input>, this tag requires both an opening and a closing tag.

Basic Syntax:

<textarea name="message" rows="4" cols="50">
Enter your message here...
</textarea>

Explanation:

name: Assigns a name to the textarea for form submission.
rows: Specifies the number of visible text lines.
cols: Specifies the visible width (in character columns).
The text between the tags (Enter your message here...) is the default value displayed in the box.

Example in a Form:

<form action="/submit" method="post">
  <label for="feedback">Your Feedback:</label><br>
  <textarea id="feedback" name="feedback" rows="6" cols="40"></textarea><br>
  <input type="submit" value="Submit">
</form>

This creates a basic feedback form with a multiline textarea and a submit button.

Optional Attributes for `<textarea>`

Attribute	Purpose
`placeholder`	Shows a hint inside the box before user types
`maxlength`	Limits the number of characters that can be entered
`required`	Makes the textarea mandatory before form submission
`readonly`	Allows viewing but prevents editing
`disabled`	Grays out the field and disables input

Example with Attributes:

<textarea name="bio" placeholder="Write your bio here..." maxlength="500" required></textarea>

Styling the Textarea

While basic HTML gives you a functional box, you can enhance it with CSS for better design and responsiveness:

<style>
  textarea {
    width: 100%;
    padding: 10px;
    font-size: 1rem;
    border-radius: 6px;
    resize: vertical;
  }
</style>

Conclusion

The correct HTML for making a textarea is using the <textarea> element with the appropriate attributes like name, rows, and cols. It’s a flexible tool for gathering multi-line input from users and is widely used in forms, contact pages, and feedback systems.

With additional attributes and styling, you can make the textarea both user-friendly and visually appealing.

✅ The Answer: The <textarea> Element