I wanted to check if it's possible to use datalist with a textarea. I have it working with an input field, but the task I have here requires me to "add input suggestions to a one row textbox with datalist". Does that even make any sense?
<fieldset>
<legend>
Välj favoritbild med hjälp av datalist - skriv i listan nedan
</legend>
<input list="bilar" name="bil">
<!--<TEXTAREA list="bilar" NAME="bil" ROWS="1"></TEXTAREA> -->
<datalist id="bilar">
<option value="Dodge Viper">
<option value="Honda Civic">
<option value="Corvette Z06">
<option value="Volvo V70">
<option value="Ferrari Spider 360">
</datalist>
</fieldset>
However, I can't get it working with my textarea (which is commented out above). It works with the input-element however.
Anyone know how I can get the above example working with a one-row textbox?
No, because datalist by definition associates with an input element. Moreover, selecting an item drom a datalist means replacing the entire value of the associated input element, instead of appending to it, which normally be the idea if you used predefined alternatives for a textarea element.
There is nothing illogical with the idea of a pre-made list of alternatives to use for text area input, but there is nothing for it in HTML at present (or being planned, as far as I known). It can be coded rather simply in JavaScript, though.
You can have a list of items, for example as a ul list, or even as a select element. You would then add a little JavaScript that causes the item text to be written or appended to the textarea element e.g. when an item is clicked on or a selection is made from a select list
There is normally no reason to have a single-line text input field as a textarea. It’s possible, just not useful, except perhaps in very special cases. Note that <textarea rows=1 ...> lets the user enter any number of lines, it just makes that very inconvenient.