The value property returns the current value of the text area.
<html> <head> <script language="JavaScript"> <!-- function resetText(){ document.myForm.myTextArea.value = document.myForm.myTextArea.defaultValue; } --> </script> </head> <body> <form name="myForm"> <textarea name="myTextArea" rows=6 cols=50> Here is some text in my text area. </textarea> <input type=BUTTON value="Reset" name="myButton" onClick='resetText()'> </form> </body> </html>