Text area

Version 5.0.0

A text area lets a user input a longer amount of text than a standard text field. It can include all of the standard validation options supported by the text field component.

Key example of a text area in not quiet style, no drag icon and a number height. Label, Description. 5 lines of sample input text.
DateVersionSpectrumExpress UI KitFeb 24, 20235.0.0In progressIn progressApr 06, 20224.0.0DownloadDownloadFeb 23, 20223.1.0In progressIn progressFeb 07, 20223.0.0DownloadOct 04, 20212.0.0DownloadJul 21, 20201.0.1DownloadMar 09, 20201.0.0Download

Anatomy#

Image illustrating through labels the component parts of a text area including its field, label, required asterisk, value, character count, validation marker, and help text, description or error message.

Options#

Key example of a text area. Label, Interests. Value text, Snowboarding, canoeing, calligraphy, gardening, knitting, child-rearing.

Label#

A text area should always have a label. In rare cases where context is sufficient and an accessibility expert has reviewed the design, the label could be undefined. A text area without a visible label should still include an aria-label in HTML (depending on the context, “aria-label” or “aria-labelledby”).

Key example of two text areas, both labeled Interests. One example has the label above the text area, the second has the label to the left of the text area.

Label position#

Labels can be placed either on top or on the side of the field. Top labels are the default recommendation because they work better with longer copy, localization, and responsive layouts. Side labels are most useful when vertical space is limited.

Key example of a text area with value. Label, Interests. Example interests input into text area field, Snowboading, canoeing, calligraphy, gardening, knitting, child-rearing.

Value#

The value shows a user’s entered text.

Key example of a text area illustrating width. Label, Interests. Input text, Snowboarding, canoeing, calligraphy, gardening, knitting, child-rearing.

Width#

The width of a text area can be customized appropriately for its context.

Key example of four text areas showing the size options available including small, medium, large, and extra-large. Text area label, Interests. Entered text, Snowboarding, canoeing, calligraphy, gardening, knitting, child-rearing.

Size#

Text areas come in four different sizes: small, medium, large, and extra-large. The medium size is the default and most frequently used option. Use the other sizes sparingly; they should be used to create a hierarchy of importance within the page.

Key example of two text areas, one in a not quiet style and the other in quiet style. Both labeled Interests. Both with input text examples Snowboarding, canoeing, calligraphy, gardening, knitting, child-rearing.

Quiet#

Text areas should rarely be presented in the quiet style. If the number height variant is turned off, then a text area can use the quiet style. The height of the field will grow with the height of the entered value.

Key example of 3 text areas, all labeled Interests, all with value text, Snowboarding, canoeing, calligraphy, gardening, knitting, child-rearing. Each shows a different way to communicate if the text area is a required field. The first has "(optional)" written to the right of the label text. The second has "(required)" written to the right of the label text. The third has an asterisk icon to the right of the label text, to denote that the text area is required.

Required or optional#

Text areas can be marked as optional or required, depending on the situation. For required text fields, there are two styling options: a “(required)” label or an asterisk. If you use an asterisk, be sure to include hint text to explain what the asterisk means. Optional text areas are either denoted with text added to the end of the label — “(optional)” — or have no indication at all.

The asterisk used in this component is an icon that has specific spacing from the label text — not part of the label text itself.

Key example of a text area, label Interests. Sample input text, Snowboarding, canoeing, calligraphy, gardening, knitting, child-rearing. Character count number 72, right-aligned in line with the label text above the text area.

Character count#

Text areas can display a character count indicator when the length of the text entry needs to be kept under a predefined value. Character count indicators can be used in conjunction with other indicators (e.g., validation icon, “optional” or “required” indicators) when necessary.

Key example of a text area with validation marker option, displaying a green check icon at the top right corner of the text area. Label Email addresses. Input text lisawilson@adobe.com.

Validation icon#

Text areas can display a validation icon when the text entry is expected to conform to a specific format (e.g., email address, credit card number, password creation requirements, etc.). The icon appears as soon as a user types a valid entry into the text area.

Key example of a text area labeled "Interests" with multiple examples of interests input into the text area, in an error state. The text area has a red border and a red alert icon in the top right corner.

Error#

A text area can be marked as having an error to show that a value needs to be entered in order to move forward or that a value that was entered is invalid.

Key example of a text area in a disabled state, unable to be interacted with. Label Interests. Sample input text, Snowboarding, canoeing, calligraphy, gardening, knitting, child-rearing.

Disabled#

A text area in a disabled state shows that the input field exists, but is not available in that circumstance. This can be used to maintain layout continuity and communicate that a text area may become available later.

Key example of read-only text area. Label, interests. Input text, Snowboarding, canoeing, calligraphy, gardening, knitting, child-rearing. An arrow cursor hovers over and highlights part of the input text in blue, to copy it.

Read-only#

Text areas have a read-only option for when content in the disabled state still needs to be shown. This allows for content to be copied, but not interacted with or changed.

Key example of a text area with the drag icon in the bottom right corner for changing the text area size. Label Interests. Value text, Snowboarding, canoeing, calligraphy, gardening, knitting, child-rearing.

Drag icon#

Text areas can either be a static size or can be resizable with a drag icon in the bottom right corner. The drag icon should be hidden if the fixed variant is turned off, or if the text area should not be resizable.

Key example of 2 text areas, both labeled Interests, both with various sample input text describing hobbies and interests. 2 options for height. One for a "number" option, field does not grow with input text. Second where "nothing" is entered for height, so field grows with input text.

Height#

If undefined, the height of a text area is dynamic and grows with the input text.

Image showing a text area with help text and error message. Text area label, Interests. Help text in grey color, Describe the interests you’d like to explore through our tutorials. Error text in red color, Enter at least one interest.

Help text (description and error message)#

A text area can have help text below the field to give extra context or instruction about what a user should input in the field. The help text area has two options: a description and an error message. The description communicates a hint or helpful information, such as specific requirements for correctly filling out the field. The error message communicates an error for when the field requirements aren’t met, prompting a user to adjust what they had originally input.

Table of options#

From the design point of view, each component has a number of options. These options and their names are platform agnostic, and each implementation should adapt these to fit into their framework.

PropertyValuesDefault Valuelabeltext / nothinglabel positiontop / sidetopvaluetext / nothingwidthnumbersizesmall / medium / large / extra-largemediumis quietyes / nononecessity indicatortext / icon / nothingiconis requiredyes / nonohas character countyes / nonoshow valid iconyes / nonois erroryes / nonois disabledyes / nonois read-onlyyes / nonohide drag iconyes / nonoheightnumber / nothing
If undefined, height is dynamic and grows with input text.
number
descriptiontext / nothingnothingerror messagetext / nothingnothing

Behaviors#

Key example of a text area at minimum width and minimum height. Label Interests. Value text, Snowboarding, canoeing, calligraphy.

Minimum size#

Text areas are ideal for long sentences or paragraphs, and should comfortably accommodate larger amounts of text. They should have a minimum height of 56 px on desktop and 70 px on mobile (when the height of the text area is a defined number). The minimum width is 112 px on desktop and 140 px on mobile.

Key example of two text areas. Both labeled Interests with a long list of various interests and hobbies as the sample input text. One is an active state text area with input text overflowing out of the top of the text area. The second is an inactive state text area with input text overflowing out of the bottom of the text area.

Overflow#

When typing into a text area and reaching the end of the field on a number-height text area, the cursor should remain as static in the bottom right corner (for left-to-right languages) while text above it overflows through the top of the field. When the field loses focus, text should overflow through the bottom of the text area, showing the beginning of the text.

Key example of a text area with help text that has overflowed to a second line. Text area label, Interests. Help text in grey color, Describe the interests you’d like to explore through our tutorials.

Help text overflow#

When the help text is too long for the available horizontal space, it wraps to form another line.

Key example of text areas in Windows “high contrast black” theme with label “Text area” and disabled text area with label “Disabled text area”.

Windows high contrast mode#

In Windows high contrast mode, text area should be displayed using the high contrast theme-specified colors for buttons. By default, border colors should be the same as the button text color and labels should use default text color. In hover and keyboard focus states, the border color should display as the button border color. In the disabled state, border and text color should display as the disabled color.

Text area (Windows high contrast mode) UI kit

Usage guidelines#

Include a label#

Every text area should have a label. A text area without a label is ambiguous and not accessible.

do
Key example of a text area correctly using a label above the text area. Label Members. Input text Lisa.
dont
Key example of incorrect usage of a text area. Text area missing a label. Input text Lisa.

Follow capitalization rules#

Text area labels and placeholder text should be written in sentence case.

do
Key example of a text area correctly using sentence case styling for the label text. Label Hobbies and interests. Value text Photography, gardening.
dont
Key example of an incorrect text styling on a text area. Title case for the label text. Label Hobbies and Interests, value Photography, gardening.

Mark the minority of text areas in a form as required or optional#

In a single form, mark only the required fields or only the optional fields, depending on whichever is less frequent in the entire form. If most of the text fields are optional, only the required fields should be give an asterisk or have labels appended with “(required)”. If most of the text fields are required, only the optional fields should be appended with “(optional)”. An asterisk should never be used to note that a text area is optional.

do
Key example of a group of text areas correctly marking the minority of text areas as optional. 3 text areas, labels First name, Last name, Interests (optional).
dont
Key example of a group of text areas incorrectly marking the majority of text areas as required. 3 text areas, labels First name (required), Last name (required), Interests.

Don't use quiet style for fixed-height text areas#

Because text areas are typically taller and wider than other components, it’s important to include the background of the field in order to help a user know where to click or tap to start entering text. If a text area is using the quiet style, the field underline may be too far away from the text to be recognized as part of the component. Only use the quiet style when the height option is not a fixed number.

dont
Key example of a text area incorrectly using the quiet style with a fixed number-height.

Use help text to show hints, formatting, and requirements#

The description in the help text is flexible and encompasses a range of guidance. Sometimes this guidance is about what to input, and sometime it’s about how to input. This includes information such as:

  • An overall description of the input field
  • Hints for what kind of information needs to be input
  • Specific formatting examples or requirements

The help text’s message should not simply restate the same information in the label in order to prompt someone to interact with it. Don’t add help text if it isn’t actually relevant or meaningful to a user in order to try to maintain layout continuity with other inputs that require help text.

do
Key example of correct usage of help text in a text area. Text area label, Interests. Help text in grey color, Describe the interests you’d like to explore through our tutorials.
dont
Key example of incorrect usage of help text in a text area. Text area label, Interests. Help text in grey color, Enter your interests.

Don’t use placeholder text#

Putting instructions for how to complete an input, requirements, or any other essential information into placeholder text is not accessible. Once a value is entered, placeholder text is no longer viewable; if someone is using an automatic form filler, they will never get the information in the placeholder text.

Instead of placeholder text, use the help text description to convey requirements or to show any formatting examples that would help user comprehension. If there's placeholder text and help text at the same time, it becomes redundant and distracting, especially if they're communicating the same thing.

do
Key example of correct usage of help text instead of placeholder text in a text area. Text area label, Interests. Help text in grey color, Describe the interests you’d like to explore through our tutorials.
dont
Key example of incorrect usage of placeholder text instead of help text in a text area. Text area label, Interests. Placeholder text inside of text area, Describe the interests you’d like to explore through our tutorials.

Switch help text with error text#

The help text area also displays an error message. When a text area already includes help text and an error is triggered, the help text is replaced with error text. Once the error is resolved, the help text description reappears below the field.

Since one gets replaced by the other, the language of the help text and error text need to work together to convey the same messaging. Help text explains the requirement or adds supplementary context for how to successfully complete the input. Error text tells a user how to fix the error by re-stating the input requirements or describing the necessary interaction. Make sure that the help text and the error text include the same essential information so that it isn’t lost if one replaces the other (e.g., minimum requirements).

do
Key example of correct usage of switching help text with error text. Required text area, label Interests. Help text description in grey color, Describe the interests you’d like to explore through our tutorials. Error text message in red color, Enter at least one interest.
dont
Key example of incorrect usage of switching help text with error text. Required text area, label Interests. Help text description in grey color, Enter your interests. Error text message in red color, Enter your interests.

Write error text that shows a solution#

Write error messaging in a human-centered way by guiding a user and showing them a solution — don’t simply state what’s wrong and then leave them guessing as to how to resolve it. Ambiguous error messages can be frustrating and even shame-inducing for users. Also, keep in mind that something that a system may deem an error may not actually be perceived as an error to a user.

Error text should be written in 1-2 short, complete sentences and in a clear and straightforward way. End sentences with a period, and never with an exclamation point. For text areas, the nature of the error is often related to something that needs to be fixed for in-line validation, so a helpful tone is most appropriate. For example, if someone were to miss filling out a required field that asks for their interests, write the error text like you’re offering a hint or a tip to help guide them to understand what needs to go in the missing field: “Enter at least one interest.”

do
Key example of correct way to write an error message. Required text area, label Interests. Error message shown in red color, text Enter at least one interest.
dont
Key example of incorrect way to write an error message. Required text area, label Interests. Error message shown in red color, text Invalid field.

Internationalization#

Key example of 3 text areas, including character count, validation icon, and error options, in right-to-left languages.

RTL#

For RTL (right-to-left) languages, the layout of a text area is mirrored. The label is right-aligned and various decorations (e.g., character count, validation icon, error icon) are left-aligned. Make sure to consider that some types of content (e.g., email addresses) are not translated.

Keyboard interactions#

KeyInteractionTabTabbing into a text area selects the existing text.

Theming#

A theme is an intentional, systematic customization of Spectrum. It has unique visual attributes. For more information, view Theming.

Key example of a text area in the Spectrum for Adobe Express theme. Label, Interests. Input text, Snowboarding, canoeing, calligraphy, gardening, knitting, child-rearing.

Spectrum for Adobe Express#

Text areas in Spectrum for Adobe Express have more rounding and a thicker border.

Changelog#

DateNumberNotesFeb 24, 20235.0.0
  • Updated read-only option design
Apr 06, 20224.0.0
  • Updated all colors to 6.0.0
Feb 23, 20223.1.0
  • Removed placeholder text option
Feb 07, 20223.0.0
  • Updated read-only option design
Oct 04, 20212.0.0
  • Added size option
Jul 21, 20201.0.1
  • Updated border color to be more accessible
Mar 09, 20201.0.0
  • This component has been added to the website

Design checklist#

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All interactive states

Includes all interactive states that are applicable (hover, down, focus, keyboard focus, disabled).

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All color themes

Works properly across all four color themes (lightest, light, dark, darkest).

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All platform scales

Includes a desktop scale (UWP, macOS, web desktop) and a mobile scale (iOS, Android, web mobile).

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Accessible use of color

Color is not used as the only visual means of conveying information (WCAG 2.0 1.4.1).

unchecked

Accessible contrast for text

Text has a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for small text and at least 3:1 for large text (WCAG 2.0 1.4.3).

N/A

Accessible contrast for UI components

Visual information required to identify components and states (except inactive components) has a contrast ratio of at least 3:1 (WCAG 2.1 1.4.11).

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Content design

UI language and information design considerations have been incorporated into component design.

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Defined options

Includes relevant options (variant, style, size, orientation, optional iconography, decorations, selection, error state, etc.)

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Defined behaviors

Includes guidelines for keyboard focus, layout (wrapping, truncation, overflow), animation, interactions, etc.

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Usage guidelines

Includes a list of dos and don'ts that highlight best practices and common mistakes.

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Writing guidelines

Includes content standards or usage guidelines for how to write or format in-product content for the component.

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Internationalization guidelines

Works properly across various locales and includes guidelines for bi-directionality (RTL).

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Keyboard interactions

Follows WCAG 2.0 standards for keyboard accessibility guidelines and includes a description of the keyboard interactions.

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Design tokens

All design attributes (color, typography, layout, animation, etc.) are available as design tokens.

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UI kit

Includes a downloadable XD file that shows multiple options, states, color themes, and platform scales.

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Generated UI kit

Includes a downloadable XD file, generated by code using design tokens defined in Spectrum DNA, and shows multiple options, states, color themes, and platform scales.

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In Spectrum for Adobe XD plugin

Component is included in the Spectrum for Adobe XD plugin.