Textarea
Multi-line text input for longer responses with auto-resizing.
Textarea fields let users enter multiple lines of text. Good for comments, feedback, descriptions and other longer responses. The field grows automatically as the user types.
Basic Usage
Add a textarea field using the addTextarea() builder method:
app/Models/Survey.php
Available Settings
Validation
Textarea fields are validated by the TextFieldValidator, sharing the same validation logic as single-line text fields:
Character Count
When
max_length is set, the frontend displays a live character counter so users can see how much room they have left. Controlling Height
Use the rows() method to set the initial height of the textarea:
The rows setting only controls the initial height. The textarea expands as the user types more content.
Frontend Behavior
- Auto-expands vertically as content grows (no scrollbar needed)
- Shows character counter when max_length is set
- Preserves line breaks and formatting in submissions
- Respects tab key for indentation (does not navigate to next field)
- Displays validation errors inline below the textarea
When to Use
Use Textarea For:
- Comments and feedback
- Descriptions (50-500 characters)
- Short essays or responses
- Multi-line addresses
- Plain text content
Use Rich Text For:
- Formatted content (bold, italic, lists)
- Longer articles or essays
- Content with links or headings
- Structured responses
- HTML output needed