JavaScript get TextArea input via .value or .innerHTML?

Question

Is it ok to get the value of a textarea element in JavaScript with myTextArea.value or should I use myTextArea.innerHTML?

Thank you.

Please, for this kind of questions always point the spec, thanks: https://html.spec.whatwg.org/multipage/forms.html#dom-textarea-value — Fagner Brack, Oct 25 '14 at 00:47

score 92 · Accepted Answer · answered Mar 15 '11 at 15:43

92

You should use .value

myTextArea.value

answered Mar 15 '11 at 15:43

jessegavin

74,067
28
136
164

5

Since textarea has an endtag .I thought i have to use .innerHTML & .value won't work.I was setting textarea value in codebehind.Though innerHTML was giving me value but even though i edit the value ,it use to give me the same old value that i had setup from code behind.Read ur answer and used textarea.value.its working fine now.I'm getting textarea value properly now.up voted d ans. – Neelam Jun 16 '12 at 09:03
4

Please, for this kind of questions always point the spec, thanks: html.spec.whatwg.org/multipage/forms.html#dom-textarea-value – Fagner Brack Oct 25 '14 at 00:47

score 17 · Answer 2 · answered Jun 08 '18 at 14:16

17

One difference is that you can use HTML entities with .innerHTML

document.getElementById('t1').innerHTML = '&lt;&gt;&amp;';
document.getElementById('t2').value = '&lt;&gt;&amp;';

<textarea id="t1"></textarea>
<textarea id="t2"></textarea>

answered Jun 08 '18 at 14:16

SuperOP535

229
3
4

This question is about reading the value, not about setting it. – connexo Oct 05 '21 at 11:28

score 6 · Answer 3 · answered Feb 11 '14 at 19:56

For div and span, you can use innerHTML, but for textarea use value. Please see the example below.

<script language="javascript/text">
document.getElementById("spanText").innerHTML ="text";
document.getElementById("divText").innerHTML ="text";
document.getElementById("textArea").value ="text";
</script>


<span id="spanText"></span>
<div id="divText"></div>
<textarea id="textArea"></textArea>

score 1 · Answer 4 · answered Oct 21 '17 at 21:41

1

Don't use innerHTML use value e.g. document.getElementById(name).value

answered Oct 21 '17 at 21:41

Jimmy Marvosh

11
1

score 0 · Answer 5 · answered Mar 15 '11 at 15:45

0

The answer depends on your situation.

I would personally use .value as that's what the other form inputs provide. It's easier to be in the habit of doing it that way.

answered Mar 15 '11 at 15:45

ryanneufeld

157
1
4

JavaScript get TextArea input via .value or .innerHTML?

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