How can make an input[type=text] element to work as textarea?

Question

I have an element input[type=text], I want to make it works as an textarea element. Means I need to have a bigger height of an input[type=text] element with showing multiple lines just like an textarea element. I have an issue that I can't take textarea in place of input[type=text], so I need a way where I can convert or make it work as textarea.

Answer 1

As answered here:

Multiple lines of input in <input type="text" />

It turns out that adding the css property word-break: break-word; makes it behave a bit more as you want it. I did a quick test and it does work.

Buyer beware, there will be other features textarea does that input[type="text"] can't have. But it's a start!

DEMO

input{
    height:500px;
    width:500px;
    word-break: break-word;
}

<input type="text">

This will only allow the text to flow to the next line when it hits the right border but it won't let you use the return key to start a new line and the text is verticaly centered in the input.

---

If JavaScript is an option, as much fun as it is to try and twist poor input's arm until it behaves as a textarea, the best solution to your problem is to display an actual textarea, hide the text input and keep both in sync with javascript. Here is the fiddle:

http://jsfiddle.net/fen05zd8/1/

---

If jQuery is an option, then you could convert your target input[type="text"] to textarea on the fly. While converting, you could copy all relevant attributes like id and value and class. Events will automatically point to the replaced textarea bound using event delegation or via class selectors.

This way you won't have to change your existing markup (as you said changing to textarea is not possible for you). Just inject a little Javascript / jQuery and viola you get the functionality of textarea using actual textarea.

One sample demo using Javascript is above. Another sample demo using jQuery is here: http://jsfiddle.net/abhitalks/xqrfedg2/

And a simple snippet:

$("a#go").on("click", function () {

    $("input.convert").each(function () {
        var $txtarea = $("<textarea />");
        $txtarea.attr("id", this.id);
        $txtarea.attr("rows", 8);
        $txtarea.attr("cols", 60);        
        $txtarea.val(this.value);
        $(this).replaceWith($txtarea);
    });
});

<script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/2.1.1/jquery.min.js"></script>
<label>Name:</label><input id="txt1" type="text" />
<br /><br />
<label>Address:</label><input id="txt2" type="text" class="convert" value="Address here.." />
<hr />
<a id="go" href="#">Convert</a>