Minimal length in textarea validation

Question

I have a problem with my script. It is only partly working. If i enter less then 15 charachters the alert appears but then i click ok on the alert massage and the from gets send anyway. I am not sure waht i'm doing wrong. Here is my script:

function checktextarea() {
var minLength = 15;
var $textarea = $('#massage');
if($textarea.text().split(/\s+/).length < minLength) {
  alert('You need to enter at least ' + minLength + ' words');
    return false;
 }
}

This is the html:

<form action="kontaktsi.php" name="myForm" id="myForm" method="post" class="contact_form" onsubmit="checktextarea()">
 <span class="sporo">
  <input type="text" id="fname" name="fname" class="contacttextform form-control" placeholder="Name" required>
 </span>
 <input type="email" id="email" name="email" class="contacttextform" placeholder="Your email" required><br><br>
 <textarea name="message" id="message" cols="8" rows="8" class="contacttextarea" placeholder="text text text?" required></textarea>
 <br>
 <div class="send">
  <input name="send" type="submit" class="contactformbutton" style="width:150px;" value="Send">
 </div>
</form>

Make sure you use `return checktextarea()`, and not just `checktextarea()` when you call it. — Barmar, Aug 29 '14 at 11:14

Reinder Wit · Accepted Answer · 2014-08-29T11:59:50.870

1

change your <form> tag into this:

<form action="kontaktsi.php" ... method="post" onsubmit="return checktextarea()">

You need to add return to the call, in order to pass the boolean value false to the submit event.

There's also a typo in your script: change $('#massage') into $('#message') Finally, you need to use val() instead of text() to get the value of a <textarea>. Here's the final script:

function checktextarea() {
    var minLength = 15;
    var textarea = $('#message');
    if(textarea.val().replace(' ') < minLength) {
        alert('You need to enter at least ' + minLength + ' words');
        return false;
    }
    return true;
}

edited Aug 29 '14 at 11:59

answered Aug 29 '14 at 11:38

Reinder Wit

6,490
1
25
36

Did it like u said. But the message get's send. It does show me the alert notice like when i don't use return but the problem is still there, i still get the message on my email. – user3337790 Aug 29 '14 at 11:43
@user3337790 there are a few more flaws in your script, check my updated answer – Reinder Wit Aug 29 '14 at 12:01

score 0 · Answer 2 · edited May 23 '17 at 11:57

I am not 100% sure if it is the only way, but the last time I solved this problem I avoided the generic onsubmit mechanism; precisely because of the missing way of breaking in case of error.

Instead, one can bind a jQuery submit event and then use preventDefault() in case of error, as described here:

http://api.jquery.com/submit/

One can even submit directly with jQuery: Submit a form using jQuery

It is slightly more work, but you have much better control.

score -1 · Answer 3 · answered Aug 29 '14 at 11:15

-1

try this

function checktextarea() {
  var minLength = 15;
  var $textarea = $('#massage');
  if($textarea.val().split(' ').length < minLength) {
    alert('You need to enter at least ' + minLength + ' words');
    return false;
  }
}

answered Aug 29 '14 at 11:15

user3349436

151
5

1

Try what? This is a game of spot-the-difference, not an answer. – Quentin Aug 29 '14 at 11:16
He says he gets the alert, so his problem isn't with how he checks the length. – Barmar Aug 29 '14 at 11:17
you see that `$textarea.val().split(' ').length` – user3349436 Aug 29 '14 at 11:17
4

You should explain what you changed in the answer, not expect people to search for it. – Barmar Aug 29 '14 at 11:18
1

Using `' '` instead of the existing regex is going to make things worse since `foo bar` will now count as three words instead of two. – Quentin Aug 29 '14 at 11:19
I'm soo sorry, I know now. U use `checktextarea()` function in your submit function so change it with this in your button attribute maybe `onclick="checktextarea();return false;"` – user3349436 Aug 29 '14 at 11:20
Consider editing your answer (there is an edit button below) instead of posting a comment. – Tasos K. Aug 29 '14 at 11:49

Minimal length in textarea validation

3 Answers3