The TEXTAREA element indicates a multi-line text entry field. The
contents between the beginning and end TEXTAREA tags represent the initial
contents of the field in the browser.
Description:
This is a method of giving access/focus to an active HTML element using
a keyboard character. This is a common GUI paradigm also known
as a "keyboard shortcut" or "keyboard accelerator"
A single character is used as the value of this attribute. In addition,
a platform-dependent key is usually used in combination with the
ACCESSKEY character to access the functionality of the active field.
Values:
A single, case-insensitive alphanumeric character from a browser's
character set.
Cols
2 | 3
| 3.2 | 4
| IE1 | M2A2
| N1
Required? Yes
Description:
This attribute indicates the visible number of columns in the Textarea
field.
Values: Positive integers
Disabled
2 | 3
| 3.2 | 4
| IE4B1 | M
| N
Required? No
Description:
This is a stand-alone attribute which indicates the element is
initially non-functional.
Values: NA
Name
2 | 3
| 3.2 | 4
| IE1 | M2A2
| N1
Required? Yes
Description:
This is a required attribute that associates a symbolic name to the
field for submittal to the form processing script.
Values: Alphanumeric characters
onBlur
2
| 3 | 3.2
| 4 | IE3B1
| M | N2B3
Required? No
Description:
A blur Event Handler executes Script code when a Textarea field
in a form loses focus.
Values: Script statements or an
external function call.
onChange
2
| 3 | 3.2
| 4 | IE3B1
| M | N2B3
Required? No
Description:
A change Event Handler executes Script code when a Textarea field loses
focus and its value has been modified. This Event Handler is used to
validate data after it is modified by a user.
Values: Script statements or an
external function call.
onFocus
2
| 3 | 3.2
| 4 | IE3B1
| M | N2B3
Required? No
Description:
A focus Event Handler executes Script code when a Textarea field
receives input focus by tabbing with the keyboard or clicking with
the mouse. Selecting within a field results in a onSelect event, not
a onFocus event.
Values: Script statements or an
external function call.
onSelect
2
| 3 | 3.2
| 4 | IE4
| M | N
Required? No
Description:
A select Event Handler executes Script code when a user selects some
of the text within a textarea field.
Values: Script statements or an
external function call.
Readonly
2 | 3
| 3.2 | 4
| IE4B1 | M
| N
Required? No
Description:
This is a stand-alone attribute which tells the browser that
content in the field may not be modified by the reader.
Values: NA
Rows
2
| 3 | 3.2
| 4 | IE1
| M2A2 | N1
Required? Yes
Description:
This attribute indicates the visible number of rows in the Textarea
field.
Values: Positive integers
Tabindex
2 | 3
| 3.2 | 4
| IE4B1 | M
| N
Required? No
Description:
"Tabbing" is a method of giving access/focus to an active HTML
element using a standard keyboard sequence. All the active elements in a
document can be cycled through using this sequence (ex: Windows TAB key.)
The order of the active elements in this cycle is usually the order they
occur in the document, but the TABINDEX attribute allows a different order
to be established. The use of this attribute should create the following
tabbing order cycle if the browser supports the attribute:
Active elements using the TABINDEX attribute with positive integers are
navigated first. Low values are navigated first.
Active elements not specifying any TABINDEX attribute
Those elements carrying a DISABLED attribute or using negative TABINDEX
values do not participate in the tabbing cycle.
Values: Positive or negative integers.
Wrap
2
| 3 | 3.2
| 4 | IE??
| M | N2
Required? No
Description:
This attribute indicates word-wrapping rules inside the Textarea field
box.
Values: Off - No word wrapping.
Lines are sent exactly as typed. DEFAULT Virtual - Display word-wraps, but
long lines are sent as one line without newline characters. Physical - Display word-wraps
and the text is transmitted at all wrap points.
Example
<form>
<textareaNAME="foo"
ROWS="3" COLS="40">
Default TEXTAREA value goes here
</textarea>
</form>
I have to admit that I have not been able to verify the exact
definition of the WRAP attribute under direct testing. Netscape was the first
browser with STATED support for the attribute, and now Internet
Explorer says it does as well. I am still tracking this down, but if someone can
help out on this, it would be great!
Browser Peculiarities
The TEXTAREA element appears to have been supported in Mosaic 2.0
Alpha 1, but in testing it directly, the feature seemed to be mostly
broken. The Alpha 2 release brought behavior closer to what is considered
'normal' for current browsers, so I chose that release as the first
"supported" version.
Internet Explorer 3.0 references list support for an additional method
of specifying a TEXTAREA using the <INPUT TYPE=TEXTAREA> element. It
used all the same attributes as the TEXTAREA element, but was not a container
element. A VALUE attribute was used to take the place of the container
behavior of TEXTAREA. Even though the references state that IE supported this,
no version I have ever found actually DOES support it.