textarea with horizontal rule

This snippet of CSS code is designed to create a styled text area that mimics the appearance of lined notebook paper. The styling adds visual cues to make the content inside more organized and easy to read, perfect for note-taking applications or journal entries. Here’s a breakdown of how the code works and its significance:

Code Example:

.notes {
    background-attachment: local;
    background-image:
        linear-gradient(to right, white 10px, transparent 10px),
        linear-gradient(to left, white 10px, transparent 10px),
    repeating-linear-gradient(white, white 30px, #ccc 30px, #ccc 31px, white 31px);
    line-height: 31px;
    padding: 8px 10px;
}

<textarea class="notes"></textarea>

When applied to a <textarea>, this CSS code gives the text input area a clean, notebook-like feel with visible margins on both sides and horizontal lines running across the background. The text itself is spaced out in a way that aligns nicely with the lines, and the background lines scroll with the text to maintain the effect no matter how much content is added.

background-attachment: local;

In this case, the background (which will later be defined as a repeating pattern) remains fixed relative to the text, simulating notebook lines that scroll along with the text as the user types.

background-image

The background-image property is where the lined notebook paper effect is created. It contains three layers of gradients:

Layer 1: linear-gradient(to right, white 10px, transparent 10px) This layer creates a white strip on the right side of the element for the first 10 pixels and then makes the rest of the line transparent. This mimics the margin found on notebook paper.
Layer 2: linear-gradient(to left, white 10px, transparent 10px) Similar to the first layer, this creates a white strip on the left side of the element, creating even margins on both sides.
Layer 3: repeating-linear-gradient(white, white 30px, #ccc 30px, #ccc 31px, white 31px) This is the key layer that generates the repeating lines. The repeating linear gradient creates alternating stripes of white and light gray (#ccc), with each line being 30px apart. This is what simulates the lines found on notebook paper.

Code Demo

Use Cases:

This type of styling can be particularly useful in the following scenarios:

Note-taking applications: It offers a visually organized way for users to enter and review their notes.
Journaling tools: The familiar notebook paper look can make digital journaling feel more intuitive.
Educational apps: It can help students focus on structure when writing essays or responses.

Conclusion:

This CSS code is a simple yet effective way to enhance user experience by mimicking the look of physical notebook paper in a digital environment. By leveraging CSS gradients, padding, and line-height, the design makes text areas look structured and aesthetically pleasing, promoting a more organized input system for users.