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WAI-ARIA: Role=Textbox

Description

A type of input that allows free-form text as its value.

If the aria-multiline attribute is true, the widget accepts line breaks within the input, as in an HTML textarea. Otherwise, this is a simple text box. The intended use is for languages that do not have a text input element, or cases in which an element with different semantics is repurposed as a text field.

Note: In most user agent implementations, the default behavior of the ENTER or RETURN key is different between the single-line and multi-line text fields in HTML. When user has focus in a single-line <input type=”text”> element, the keystroke usually submits the form. When user has focus in a multi-line <textarea> element, the keystroke inserts a line break. The WAI-ARIA textbox role differentiates these types of boxes with the aria-multiline attribute, so authors are advised to be aware of this distinction when designing the field.

Example

HTML Example

<textarea role="textbox"></textarea>

Characteristics

Superclass Role 

  • input

Subclass Roles 

  • searchbox

Related Concepts 

  • XForms input
  • HTML textarea
  • HTML input[type=”text”]

Supported States and Properties 

  • aria-activedescendant
  • aria-autocomplete
  • aria-multiline
  • aria-placeholder
  • aria-readonly
  • aria-required

Inherited States and Properties

  • aria-atomic
  • aria-busy (state)
  • aria-controls
  • aria-current (state)
  • aria-describedby
  • aria-details
  • aria-disabled (state)
  • aria-dropeffect
  • aria-errormessage
  • aria-flowto
  • aria-grabbed (state)
  • aria-haspopup
  • aria-hidden (state)
  • aria-invalid (state)
  • aria-keyshortcuts
  • aria-label
  • aria-labelledby
  • aria-live
  • aria-owns
  • aria-relevant
  • aria-roledescription

Name From

  • author

Accessible Name Required 

  • True

Semantic HTML

Use the HTML <input type=“text”> or <textarea> tag.

<form>
First name:<br>
<input type="text" name="firstname"><br>
Last name:<br>
<input type="text" name="lastname">
</form>


<textarea name="textarea"
rows="10" cols="50">Write something here</textarea>

Reference

W3C (opens new window)

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