# Custom textarea properties
The text area definition property template can be used to add a custom property of text area type. When defining a text area property, the following fields can be used:
Definition properties
| Field | Description |
| --- | --- |
| type | Should always be string for textarea properties.
Information noteThe link effect is achieved by defining the component field to "textarea", see below. |
| component | Used for defining how the property is visualized in the property panel. Used to override the default component that comes with the type setting.
This field is mandatory for a textarea property and should always be "textarea". |
| label | Used for defining the label of the item. |
| rows | The amount of rows in the text area component. Default is 3. |
| maxlength | Used for defining the maximum number of characters in the text.
If undefined, maxLength will automatically be 512 characters. |
| ref | Name or ID used to reference a property. |
| defaultValue | Used for defining the default value of your custom property. |
| show | Function returning true if property should be displayed. |
## Example
### Defining a custom text
Defining a custom property of text area type can look like below.
Example:
Information noteCustomization of properties always start with items:.
```
define( [
],
function ( ) {
return {
definition : {
type : "items",
component : "accordion",
items: {
settings: {
uses: "settings",
items: {
MyTextarea: {
label:"My textarea",
component: "textarea",
rows: 7,//the amount of rows in the textarea component (default is 3)
maxlength: 100,//will not allow more than 100 characters
ref: "myTextarea"
}
}
}
}
},
paint: function ($element, layout) {
//add your rendering code here
$element.html( "props-textarea"+ layout.myTextarea );
}
};
} );
```
This is what it looks like in the property panel
