Does <textarea> minlength do anything?
9/3/2025 11:26am
The `` element's `minlength` attribute does have an effect, but its behavior is important to understand.
1. **Effect on Input Value**: The `minlength` attribute sets a minimum number of characters that the `` value must have to be considered valid. If the user enters a value that is shorter than the specified minimum, the element is considered invalid.
2. **Browser Support**: While `minlength` is widely supported across modern browsers, there are some limitations and variations in behavior. For instance, Internet Explorer and Edge do not support the `minlength` attribute for `` elements. Additionally, the length specified by `minlength` is measured in UTF-16 code units, which might not always align with the number of visible characters.
3. **Combination with Other Attributes**: When used in conjunction with the `required` attribute, `minlength` ensures that the `` must have a minimum number of characters and cannot be left empty. If the form is submitted with a value that does not meet the `minlength` requirement, the submission will fail, and some browsers may display an error message indicating the minimum length required.
4. **Validation and Error Handling**: The `minlength` attribute is part of the form validation process. If the value of the `` does not meet the minimum length requirement, the `ValidityState` object's `tooShort` property will be set to `true`, indicating that the input is invalid. This can be checked programmatically or using JavaScript to handle form submission and error handling.
In summary, the `` element's `minlength` attribute is a useful tool for validating user input and ensuring that a minimum amount of text is entered. However, it should be used in conjunction with other attributes and validation methods to provide a robust input validation mechanism.