To add a multi-line text input, use the HTML <textarea> tag. You can set the size of a text area using the cols and rows attributes. To limit the number of characters entered in a textarea, use the maxlength attribute. The value if the attribute is in number.
Here are the other attributes of <textarea> tag −
Attribute | Value | Description |
---|---|---|
autofocus![]() |
autofocus | Specifies that on page load the text area should automatically get focus. |
Cols | number | Specifies the width of the textarea based on the number of visible character widths |
Disabled | disabled | Specifies the width of the textarea based on the number of visible character widths. |
form![]() |
form_id | Specifies one or more forms. |
maxlength![]() |
number | Specifies the maximum number of characters in textarea. |
Name | text | Assigns a name to the input control. |
placeholder![]() |
text | Specifies a short hint of the value in textarea. |
Readonly | readonly | Sets the input control to read-only. It won't allow the user to change the value. The control however, can receive focus and are included when tabbing through the form controls. |
required![]() |
required | Specifies that a textarea is required. |
Rows | number | Specifies the height of the textarea based on the number of visible lines of text. If there's more text than this allows, users can scroll using the textarea's scrollbars. |
wrap![]() |
hard soft | Specifies the text to be wrapped in textarea. |

You can try to run the following code to limit the number of characters entered in textarea in an HTML form −
<!DOCTYPE html> <html> <head> <title>HTML textarea Tag</title> </head> <body> <form action = "" method = "get"> What improvements you want in College? <br> <textarea rows = "5" cols = "40" maxlength = "100" name = "description"> Enter answer here... </textarea> <br> <input type = "submit" value = "submit" /> </form> </body> </html>