# Textarea Field

Source: https://payloadcms.com/docs/beta/fields/textarea

The Textarea Field is nearly identical to the [Text Field](/docs/v4/fields/text.md) but it features a slightly larger input that is better suited to edit longer text.

![Shows a textarea field and read-only textarea field in the Payload Admin Panel](https://payloadcms.com/images/docs/fields/textarea.png)

_Admin Panel screenshot of a Textarea field and read-only Textarea field_

To add a Textarea Field, set the `type` to `textarea` in your [Field Config](/docs/v4/fields/overview.md):

```ts
import type { Field } from 'payload'

export const MyTextareaField: Field = {
  // ...
  type: 'textarea', // highlight-line
}
```

## Config Options

| Option             | Description                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| ------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **`name`** \*      | To be used as the property name when stored and retrieved from the database. [More details](/docs/v4/fields/overview.md#field-names).                                                                                                                                                                         |
| **`label`**        | Text used as a field label in the Admin Panel or an object with keys for each language.                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| **`unique`**       | Enforce that each entry in the Collection has a unique value for this field. This creates a database-level unique index on the field's path. [More details](/docs/v4/database/indexes.md#unique-fields).                                                                                                      |
| **`minLength`**    | Used by the default validation function to ensure values are of a minimum character length.                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| **`maxLength`**    | Used by the default validation function to ensure values are of a maximum character length.                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| **`validate`**     | Provide a custom validation function that will be executed on both the Admin Panel and the backend. [More details](/docs/v4/fields/overview.md#validation).                                                                                                                                                   |
| **`index`**        | Build an [index](/docs/v4/database/indexes.md) for this field to produce faster queries. Set this field to `true` if your users will perform queries on this field's data often.                                                                                                                                 |
| **`saveToJWT`**    | If this field is top-level and nested in a config supporting [Authentication](/docs/v4/authentication/overview.md), include its data in the user JWT.                                                                                                                                                         |
| **`hooks`**        | Provide Field Hooks to control logic for this field. [More details](/docs/v4/hooks/fields.md).                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| **`access`**       | Provide Field Access Control to denote what users can see and do with this field's data. [More details](/docs/v4/access-control/fields.md).                                                                                                                                                                      |
| **`hidden`**       | Restrict this field's visibility from all APIs entirely. Will still be saved to the database, but will not appear in any API or the Admin Panel.                                                                                                                                                        |
| **`defaultValue`** | Provide data to be used for this field's default value. [More details](/docs/v4/fields/overview.md#default-values).                                                                                                                                                                                           |
| **`localized`**    | Enable localization for this field. Requires [localization to be enabled](/docs/v4/configuration/localization.md) in the Base config.                                                                                                                                                                         |
| **`required`**     | Require this field to have a value.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
| **`admin`**        | Admin-specific configuration. [More details](#admin-options).                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
| **`custom`**       | Extension point for adding custom data (e.g. for plugins)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
| **`jsonSchema`**   | Override field JSON Schema used for type generation and MCP validation                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| **`virtual`**      | Provide `true` to disable field in the database, or provide a string path to [link the field with a relationship](/docs/v4/fields/relationship.md#linking-virtual-fields-with-relationships). See [Virtual Fields](https://payloadcms.com/blog/learn-how-virtual-fields-can-help-solve-common-cms-challenges) |

_\* An asterisk denotes that a property is required._

## Admin Options

To customize the appearance and behavior of the Textarea Field in the [Admin Panel](/docs/v4/admin/overview.md), you can use the `admin` option:

```ts
import type { Field } from 'payload'

export const MyTextareaField: Field = {
  // ...
  admin: {
    // highlight-line
    // ...
  },
}
```

The Textarea Field inherits all of the default admin options from the base [Field Admin Config](/docs/v4/fields/overview.md#admin-options), plus the following additional options:

| Option             | Description                                                                                                                 |
| ------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **`placeholder`**  | Set this property to define a placeholder string in the textarea.                                                           |
| **`autoComplete`** | Set this property to a string that will be used for browser autocomplete.                                                   |
| **`rows`**         | Set the number of visible text rows in the textarea. Defaults to `2` if not specified.                                      |
| **`rtl`**          | Override the default text direction of the Admin Panel for this field. Set to `true` to force right-to-left text direction. |

## Example

```ts
import type { CollectionConfig } from 'payload'

export const ExampleCollection: CollectionConfig = {
  slug: 'example-collection',
  fields: [
    {
      name: 'metaDescription', // required
      type: 'textarea', // required
      required: true,
    },
  ],
}
```

## Custom Components

### Field

#### Server Component

```tsx
import type React from 'react'
import { TextareaField } from '@payloadcms/ui'
import type { TextareaFieldServerProps } from 'payload'

export const CustomTextareaFieldServer: React.FC<TextareaFieldServerProps> = ({
  clientField,
  path,
  schemaPath,
  permissions,
}) => {
  return (
    <TextareaField
      field={clientField}
      path={path}
      schemaPath={schemaPath}
      permissions={permissions}
    />
  )
}
```

#### Client Component

```tsx
'use client'
import React from 'react'
import { TextareaField } from '@payloadcms/ui'
import type { TextareaFieldClientProps } from 'payload'

export const CustomTextareaFieldClient: React.FC<TextareaFieldClientProps> = (
  props,
) => {
  return <TextareaField {...props} />
}
```

### Label

#### Server Component

```tsx
import React from 'react'
import { FieldLabel } from '@payloadcms/ui'
import type { TextareaFieldLabelServerProps } from 'payload'

export const CustomTextareaFieldLabelServer: React.FC<
  TextareaFieldLabelServerProps
> = ({ clientField, path }) => {
  return (
    <FieldLabel
      label={clientField?.label || clientField?.name}
      path={path}
      required={clientField?.required}
    />
  )
}
```

#### Client Component

```tsx
'use client'
import React from 'react'
import { FieldLabel } from '@payloadcms/ui'
import type { TextareaFieldLabelClientProps } from 'payload'

export const CustomTextareaFieldLabelClient: React.FC<
  TextareaFieldLabelClientProps
> = ({ field, path }) => {
  return (
    <FieldLabel
      label={field?.label || field?.name}
      path={path}
      required={field?.required}
    />
  )
}
```