for a TEXTAREA, how to call a JavaScript Function on Return/Enter

Question

I have a textarea that when a users pressed enter/return on their keyboard, I want to submit the field to a JavaScript function, just like it works on Twitter.

Ideas?

Thanks

Answer 1

Subscribe for the onkeydown event and detect the return key code.

Answer 2

Just use a normal text input, this functionality comes built-in. Textareas are supposed to be "returnable", making the form submit on return in a textarea will confuse your users.

Answer 3

If you're using jQuery, you could do this:

$('#myTextarea').keydown(function(e) {
    if(e.which == 13) {
        // Enter was pressed. Run your code.
    }
});

The keypress handler runs on each key press, and tests for the 'enter' key.

EDIT:

Changed keypress to keydown, as keypress may run the code multiple times if the user holds down Enter. Probably not what is desired.