<textarea>Baseline · Widely available
The <textarea> element represents an editing control that allows users to enter multi-line, free-form, plain text.
Supported in all major browsers for at least 30 months — safe to use without fallbacks. Baseline since Jul 29, 2015. Widely available since Jan 29, 2018.
Browser support
DesktopChrome
1+Supportedsince Dec 11, 2008
Current: 155Edge
12+Supportedsince Jul 29, 2015
Current: 154Firefox
1+Supportedsince Nov 9, 2004
Current: 157Safari
1–3.1Not supported
≤4+Supportedsince Jun 8, 2009
Current: 27MobileChrome Android
18+Supportedsince Jun 27, 2012
Current: 155Firefox Android
4+Supportedsince Mar 29, 2011
Current: 157Safari iOS
1–2Not supported
≤3+Supportedsince Jun 17, 2009
Current: 27How to use
This feature is Baseline widely available — use it freely, no fallback needed.
Example
Full syntax and examples are on MDN: HTMLTextAreaElement.
Feature detection
JS · check before using
const el = document.createElement("textarea");
if (!(el instanceof HTMLUnknownElement)) {
// <textarea> is supported
}Sub-features
Support for each part of the feature (40). The overall table above shows when the whole feature works.
| Sub-feature | Chrome | Edge | Firefox | Safari | Chrome Android | Firefox Android | Safari iOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HTMLTextAreaElement | 1 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 18 | 4 | 1 |
| HTMLTextAreaElement.autocomplete | 66 | 79 | 59 | 9.1 | 66 | 59 | 9.3 |
| HTMLTextAreaElement.cols | 1 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 18 | 4 | 1 |
| HTMLTextAreaElement.defaultValue | 1 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 18 | 4 | 1 |
| HTMLTextAreaElement.disabled | 1 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 18 | 4 | 1 |
| HTMLTextAreaElement.form | 1 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 18 | 4 | 1 |
| HTMLTextAreaElement.labels | 6 | 18 | 56 | 5.1 | 18 | 56 | 5 |
| HTMLTextAreaElement.maxLength | 4 | 12 | 4 | 5 | 18 | 4 | 5 |
| HTMLTextAreaElement.minLength | 40 | 17 | 51 | 10.1 | 40 | 51 | 10.3 |
| HTMLTextAreaElement.name | 1 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 18 | 4 | 1 |
| HTMLTextAreaElement.placeholder | 4 | 12 | 4 | 5 | 18 | 4 | 5 |
| HTMLTextAreaElement.readOnly | 1 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 18 | 4 | 1 |
| HTMLTextAreaElement.required | 4 | 12 | 4 | 5 | 18 | 4 | 5 |
| HTMLTextAreaElement.rows | 1 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 18 | 4 | 1 |
| HTMLTextAreaElement.select | 1 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 18 | 4 | 1 |
| HTMLTextAreaElement.select_event | 1 | 12 | 6 | 1 | 18 | 6 | 1 |
| HTMLTextAreaElement.selectionDirection | 15 | 79 | 8 | 6 | 18 | 8 | 6 |
| HTMLTextAreaElement.selectionEnd | 1 | 12 | 1 | 1.3 | 18 | 4 | 1 |
| HTMLTextAreaElement.selectionStart | 1 | 12 | 1 | 1.3 | 18 | 4 | 1 |
| HTMLTextAreaElement.setRangeText | 24 | 79 | 27 | 7 | 25 | 27 | 7 |
Show 20 more
| Sub-feature | Chrome | Edge | Firefox | Safari | Chrome Android | Firefox Android | Safari iOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HTMLTextAreaElement.setSelectionRange | 1 | 12 | 1 | 1.3 | 18 | 4 | 1 |
| HTMLTextAreaElement.textLength | 4 | 17 | 1 | 5 | 18 | 4 | 4 |
| HTMLTextAreaElement.type | 1 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 18 | 4 | 1 |
| HTMLTextAreaElement.value | 1 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 18 | 4 | 1 |
| HTMLTextAreaElement.wrap | 16 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 18 | 4 | 6 |
| textarea | 1 | 12 | 1 | ≤4 | 18 | 4 | ≤3 |
| textarea.autocomplete | 66 | 79 | 59 | 9.1 | 66 | 59 | 9.3 |
| textarea.cols | 1 | 12 | 1 | ≤4 | 18 | 4 | ≤3.2 |
| textarea.disabled | 1 | 12 | 1 | ≤4 | 18 | 4 | ≤3.2 |
| textarea.form | 1 | 12 | 1 | ≤4 | 18 | 4 | ≤3.2 |
| textarea.maxlength | 4 | 12 | 4 | 5 | 18 | 4 | 4.2 |
| textarea.minlength | 40 | 17 | 51 | 10.1 | 40 | 51 | 10.3 |
| textarea.name | 1 | 12 | 1 | ≤4 | 18 | 4 | ≤3.2 |
| textarea.placeholder | 4 | 12 | 4 | 5 | 18 | 4 | 5 |
| textarea.placeholder.line_breaks | 36 | 12 | 59 | 16 | 36 | 59 | 16 |
| textarea.readonly | 1 | 12 | 1 | ≤4 | 18 | 4 | ≤3.2 |
| textarea.required | 4 | 12 | 4 | 5 | 18 | 4 | 5 |
| textarea.rows | 1 | 12 | 1 | ≤4 | 18 | 4 | ≤3.2 |
| textarea.wrap | 16 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 18 | 4 | 6 |
| textarea.wrap.hard | 16 | 12 | ✕ | ✕ | 18 | ✕ | ✕ |