Textarea

Component preview

A labeled control for entering or editing free-form text across multiple lines.

Build pack

Turn this concept into a useful prompt

Choose the task and destination. Technical names stay in English.

What do you want to do?

CreateModifyRepair

Where will you use the prompt?Prompt languageLanguage of the interface to build

Your objective

In your own words

What people describe

Documented aliases: multiline field, comment box, long text input

a big box for writing a message
enter several lines of feedback
a comment field that can grow
write a longer description with line breaks
a resizable form area for notes
show a character count under a long response

Try it

Enter text

Compare all three behaviors

Shared comparison scenario: A form collects text, with field length and submission intent determining the appropriate input control.

This context stays fixed. Switch concepts to observe the mission, edge case, and specimen specific to each behavior.

Textarea

Textarea accepts line breaks and longer free-form content; Text field is single-line, while Search field is a query input with search submission behavior.

Your task

Write two paragraphs, resize the field, exceed the limit, and recover without losing the draft.

Edge case to verify

At the character limit, input and pasted text are handled consistently and a specific linked error preserves the full draft.

Mission

Textarea

Write two paragraphs, resize the field, exceed the limit, and recover without losing the draft.

Primary state: The multiline value, guidance, and character count remain readable at 200 percent zoom.

Parts of the specimen

Select a marker directly on the specimen, or use the list below, to see its role. Hide the markers to operate the lab without obstruction.

Label

The persistent text that names a control or field.

Use it when

Collecting a message, note, or description
Allowing meaningful paragraph breaks

Avoid it when

The value should remain one short line
Users need rich-text formatting rather than plain text

Compare similar concepts

Text field accepts one line; Textarea accepts multiple lines, while Search field submits a query through a search context.

Text field

Search field submits a query; Text field edits a general value, while Textarea accepts multiline content.

Search field

Technical details

Behaviors

Enter multiple lines
Enter inserts a new line, and the control can grow or scroll without hiding its label.
Explain validation
A specific inline message identifies the invalid field and explains how to correct it.

States

Draft within limit
Draft within limit
Draft over limit
Draft over limit

State transitions

Draft within limit → Draft over limit
Typing or pasting takes the preserved multiline draft above 500 characters.
Draft over limit → Draft within limit
Editing the preserved draft back to 500 characters or fewer resolves the linked error.

Test scenarios

Context: A support form collects a problem description up to 500 characters.
Mission: Write two paragraphs, resize the field, exceed the limit, and recover without losing the draft.
Primary state: The multiline value, guidance, and character count remain readable at 200 percent zoom.
Edge case: At the character limit, input and pasted text are handled consistently and a specific linked error preserves the full draft.

Accessibility

Role: native multiline textbox
Accessible name: The primary control or named region has a stable accessible name from visible text or an explicit programmatic label; placeholder text and tooltips are not names.
Focus: Visible focus surrounds the control and remains visible while the user scrolls within long text.
Dismissal: Not applicable: the draft remains until reset, submitted, or deliberately cleared.
Scroll: The focused field, helper text, and validation message remain visible while the page or an on-screen keyboard changes the viewport.
Announcement: Label, multiline role, helper, character limit, current invalid state, and error are exposed without announcing every keystroke count.
Keyboard: Tab focuses the textarea
Enter inserts a new line
Native editing and scrolling shortcuts remain available

Bindings

label with textarea
implementationKind
native
nativeElement
label with textarea
ariaPattern
textbox
radixPrimitive
Not applicable
shadcnRecipe
Not applicable
runtimeDependency
Not applicable
packageName
Not applicable
exportName
Not applicable
exactVersion
Not applicable
status
verified
verifiedAt
2026-07-16
deprecationStatus
active
replacement
Not applicable
validFrom
Not applicable
validUntil
Not applicable
Equivalence caveat: The native multiline control preserves Enter for line breaks, resize behavior, and form semantics while labels and errors stay associated.
Verify binding source

Sources

WHATWG HTML: The textarea element
WHATWG · standard · 2026-07-16
Claim covered: Textarea: native multiline text entry, labeling, value, wrapping, and form participation.
WHATWG HTML: Forms
WHATWG · standard · 2026-07-16
Claim covered: Textarea: native form controls, labels, submission, validation, and disabled-state behavior.

Verified on 2026-07-16 · rev. 1

Owner: SkillCodex Editorial
Status: review
Review: Independent editorial review pending
Next review: 2026-10-16
Publication: Not published
Change history: Initial sourced MVP draft; independent language review pending.