The HTML aria-multiline attribute
The aria-multiline="true" attribute marks a custom textbox as accepting multiple lines of text (like a <textarea>), which changes how Enter behaves for assistive-technology users. Prefer a native <textarea>.
Overview
The aria-multiline attribute indicates whether a textbox accepts multiple lines of input.
It is a widget state — a condition that can change as the user interacts. Because ARIA does nothing on its own, you must update this value in JavaScript every time the underlying state changes; a stale state is worse than none. And wherever a native element already expresses the same thing (a checkbox's checked state, the disabled attribute, a <details>'s open state), use that instead.
Like all ARIA, aria-multiline changes only the accessibility tree — what assistive technology perceives — never the element's behavior or appearance. The first rule of ARIA applies: if a native HTML element or attribute conveys this, use that instead, and only reach for ARIA when nothing native fits.
Syntax
<div role="textbox" aria-multiline="true" contenteditable="true"></div>Values
| Value |
|---|
| true | false |
Example
<div role="textbox" aria-multiline="true" contenteditable="true" style="border:1px solid #cbd5e1;padding:8px;border-radius:6px;"></div>Best practices
- Follow the first rule of ARIA — use a native HTML element or attribute that conveys this where one exists, rather than adding ARIA.
- Update the value in JavaScript whenever the state changes — keep it in sync with reality.
- Use the matching native state where one exists (a checkbox's
checked, thedisabledattribute, a <details>'s open state) instead of the ARIA version. - Set it only on an element whose role actually supports this state.