How do I get the input from a <textarea> in javascript?

Question

The <textarea> tag doesn't have an "value" attribute so, how do I get the input from it into a JavaScript variable. For

<form name="myForm"> 
    <input type="text" name="aName">
</form>

this is quite simple:

var javaScriptVariable = document.myForm.aName.value;

But how do I get the same result using a textarea form?

Note: Not interested in getting this on server side via php/perl etc.

I know this may sound silly for many of you, but I'm at the very beginning in the world of web programming.

use id="aName" and you will get the result using document.getElementById or document.myForm.aName.value — dev
– dev, Commented Dec 3, 2013 at 10:44
if your problem solved, please mark one answer to accepted answer — DJafari
– DJafari, Commented Feb 18, 2014 at 15:37

DJafari · Accepted Answer · 2013-12-03 10:56:30Z

1

<textarea id="myTextArea">Value</textarea>

var textareaVal = document.getElementById('myTextArea').value;

Demo

edited Dec 3, 2013 at 10:56

answered Dec 3, 2013 at 10:44

DJafari

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bevacqua · Accepted Answer · 2013-12-03 10:43:16Z

0

<textarea id='wmd-input'></textarea>

var wmd = document.getElementById('wmd-input');
var input = wmd.value;

In the case you want to use the form object, its the same really

// yes, I'm testing it on this answer's form
var form = document.getElementsByClassName('inline-post')[0];
var wmd = form['post-text'];
var input = wmd.value

answered Dec 3, 2013 at 10:43

bevacqua

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1 Comment

user3060930 Over a year ago

Thank you all, Actually it works even if there isn't a value attribute associated with textarea There was a mistake in my script I typed createNodeText() instead of createTextNode(). Finally I catched it in console. And it works. My theory :P with value attribute doesn't stand.

John McNulty · Accepted Answer · 2013-12-03 10:47:35Z

0

Not silly, we all have to start somewhere. Try this.

<textarea rows="4" cols="50" id="myTextArea">
Hello world
</textarea>

Then to access this value:

var javaScriptVariable2 = document.getElementById("myTextArea").value;
console.log(javaScriptVariable2);

answered Dec 3, 2013 at 10:47

John McNulty

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Comments

Guru · Accepted Answer · 2013-12-03 11:49:21Z

0

it's fine

var txtarea document.forms["myForm"].getElementsByTagName("aName").value;

alert(txtarea)

answered Dec 3, 2013 at 11:49

Guru

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