How To Disable Resizing of Textarea

When designing web forms, developers often encounter the need to control the dimensions of input fields, particularly <textarea> elements. While users appreciate the flexibility of resizing textareas, there are scenarios where fixed dimensions are preferable for maintaining layout integrity or enhancing user experience. This article will explore how to effectively disable resizing of a <textarea> using CSS, along with additional tips and best practices.

Why Disable Resizing?

Before diving into the technical details, it’s essential to understand why one might want to disable resizing. In many web applications, especially those with tightly controlled layouts, allowing users to resize textareas can disrupt the overall design. For instance, a fixed-size input field might be necessary in cases such as:
  • Consistent User Experience: Keeping a uniform appearance across your application enhances usability.
  • Design Integrity: Fixed dimensions prevent layout shifts that could affect adjacent elements.
  • User Focus: In certain contexts, such as feedback forms or chat interfaces, restricting textarea size may help users focus on the task at hand without unnecessary distractions.

Disabling Resizing with CSS

To disable this feature of a <textarea>, you can use resize property. This property controls how users can resize an element and can take several options:
  • none: Disables resizing completely.
  • both: Allows resizing in both directions (horizontal and vertical).
  • horizontal: Allows resizing only in the horizontal direction.
  • vertical: Allows resizing only in the vertical direction. 
.no-resize {
    resize: none; /* Disable resizing */
    width: 300px; /* Set a fixed width */
    height: 150px; /* Set a fixed height */
}

Example:

Here’s a simple example to illustrate how to implement a non-resizable textarea:
In this example, the <textarea> will have fixed dimensions and will not be resizable by users. The additional styling, such as padding and border, enhances the visual appeal and usability.