The cover of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Create a Web Page The Complete Idiot's HTML Tag Reference

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<TEXTAREA>

Creates a box for entering multiple-line text in a form.

Support:

HTML StandardInternet ExplorerNetscape Navigator
2.0 and later 1.0 and later 1.0 and later
Notes:
  • This tag requires the </TEXTAREA> end tag.
Attributes:
ACCESSKEY = "Text (single character)"
A character to use as a keyboard shortcut for selecting the control.

Support:

HTML StandardInternet ExplorerNetscape Navigator
4.0 and later 4.0 and later Not supported

Notes:

  • The access key is invoked by using it as a key combination. For example, if you specify ACCESSKEY="P", then the user invokes the key by pressing Alt+P (Windows) or Cmd+P (Mac).

CLASS = "Text"
The style sheet class used by the tag.

Support:

HTML StandardInternet ExplorerNetscape Navigator
4.0 and later 4.0 and later Not supported

Notes:

  • You can specify two or more classes; be sure to separate each class name with a space.

COLS = Positive integer (Required)
The number of columns in the text area.

Support:

HTML StandardInternet ExplorerNetscape Navigator
2.0 and later 1.0 and later 1.0 and later

DISABLED
Prevents the user from being able to click the control.

Support:

HTML StandardInternet ExplorerNetscape Navigator
4.0 and later 4.0 and later Not supported

ID = "Text"
An alphanumeric string that uniquely identifies the tag.

Support:

HTML StandardInternet ExplorerNetscape Navigator
4.0 and later 4.0 and later Not supported

Notes:

  • Although you can use letters and numbers for the ID, the first character must be a letter.

LANG = "Text"
The language used by the tag's attribute values and text content.

Support:

HTML StandardInternet ExplorerNetscape Navigator
4.0 and later 4.0 and later Not supported

NAME = "Text"
The name of the control.

Support:

HTML StandardInternet ExplorerNetscape Navigator
2.0 and later 1.0 and later 1.0 and later

Notes:

  • The NAME attribute enables scripts to work with this control.
  • With the exception of the RADIO control, all form elements must have a unique name.

READONLY
Prevents the user from editing the control.

Support:

HTML StandardInternet ExplorerNetscape Navigator
4.0 and later 4.0 and later Not supported

ROWS = Positive integer (Required)
The number of rows in the text area.

Support:

HTML StandardInternet ExplorerNetscape Navigator
2.0 and later 1.0 and later 1.0 and later

STYLE = "Text"
The style or styles to use with the tag.

Support:

HTML StandardInternet ExplorerNetscape Navigator
4.0 and later 4.0 and later Not supported

Notes:

  • If you enter multiple style properties, separate each one with a semi-colon (;).

TABINDEX = Positive integer
The control's position with the page's tabbing order.

Support:

HTML StandardInternet ExplorerNetscape Navigator
4.0 and later 4.0 and later Not supported

Notes:

  • The "tabbing order" is the order in which page elements are selected when the user presses the Tab key.

WRAP = "Text"
Determines how words are wrapped within the text area.

Support:

HTML StandardInternet ExplorerNetscape Navigator
Not supported 4.0 and later 2.0 and later

Notes:

  • OFF No wrapping (typing extends beyond the right edge of the text area).
    HARD Text wraps onto the next line at the right edge of the text area, and these carriage returns are preserved when the form is submitted.
    SOFT Text wraps onto the next line at the right edge of the text area, but these carriage returns aren't preserved when the form is submitted.

Example:
<FORM ACTION="http://www.mcfedries.com/cgi-win/formtest.exe" METHOD=POST>
First Name: <INPUT TYPE=TEXT NAME="First">
<P>
Last Name: <INPUT TYPE=TEXT NAME="Last">
<P>
Today's <I>Burning Question</I>: <B>Why is Jerry Lewis so popular in France?</B>
<P>
Please enter your answer in the text area below:
<BR>
<TEXTAREA NAME="Answer" ROWS=10 COLS=60 WRAP>
</TEXTAREA>
<P>
<INPUT TYPE=SUBMIT VALUE="I Know!">
<INPUT TYPE=RESET>
</FORM>
How It Looks:
First Name:

Last Name:

Today's Burning Question: Why is Jerry Lewis so popular in France?

Please enter your answer in the text area below:


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