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Learn how to restrict user input in a textarea while keeping the option to undo changes using JavaScript, HTML, and CSS.
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This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/69565916/ asked by the user 'Arnob Roy' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/14913529/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/69566007/ provided by the user 'Ali Vojdanian' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/1385667/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

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How to Limit User Input in a Textarea with JavaScript

If you're working with web forms, you'll likely encounter the need to control how much text a user can input into a textarea. A common requirement is to restrict the number of words or characters while allowing the user freedom of editing their input. In this guide, we’ll explore an elegant solution to achieve this using JavaScript along with the maxlength attribute in HTML.

The Problem

Imagine you have a textarea on your webpage that allows users to type a description or feedback, but you want to limit their input to 150 words. While it’s straightforward to disable the textarea when this limit is reached, it presents an issue: the user would not be able to undo their text inputs or make changes freely. So, how do we limit their input without disabling the textarea entirely?

The Solution

The solution is to utilize the maxlength attribute in conjunction with JavaScript to manage the word count. Here’s a step-by-step guide to implement this.

Step 1: Set Up Your HTML

Start by creating a simple HTML structure with a textarea and a display area for the word count. Here's a sample:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Step 2: Track the Word Count with JavaScript

Now, let's create a JavaScript function that will keep track of the number of characters typed in the textarea. It will also update the word count display and prevent additional input when the limit is reached.

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

How it Works

The oninput event triggers the updateWordCount() function every time the user types into the textarea.

Inside the function, we check the current length of the input text.

We update the displayed count accordingly.

If the input reaches the maximum length of 150 characters, we trim the text input without disabling the textarea, thus allowing users to edit and undo their previous text within the limit.

Step 3: Styling Your Textarea (Optional)

While functionality is key, a good user experience is crucial too. You can add some basic CSS to make the textarea look more appealing:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can effectively limit user input while allowing them the freedom to edit their text as desired. Instead of completely disabling the textarea, this method updates the content dynamically, promoting both usability and control.

Remember, clear user feedback, such as a word count, is also essential to enhance user experiences on your website. Enjoy coding!