TextArea returns wrong value

Question

I have some TextAreas

<textarea>Default Value</textarea>
<textarea>Default Value</textarea>

The user enters some text and I want to get their NEW values in JavaScript:

$('textarea').each(function(index, item) {
    alert(item.value);
});

It sounds simple, but all I get is "Default Value".

I've tried:

item.nodeValue, 
item.textContent, 
item.innerHTML. item.innerText, 
item.value, 
$(item).val() in jQuery

I'm always getting "Default Value". Though firebug even shows the new value in HtmlTextAreaElement => value. That should be item.value , right? I feel stupid, please help me.

Answer 1

in textarea it's not item.value, it's innerHTML

jquery's val() works though

<input type="text" value="some text" />
<textarea id="something" name="something">some text</textarea>

you can do:

$('textarea').each(function(index, item){
    console.log($(item).val());
});

Answer 2

Give your textareas a "name" attribute

<textarea name="name">innterHTML</textarea>

and use

item.innerHTML

as suggested, for textarea it is innerHTML, not value :)

Answer 3

The user enters some text and I want to get their NEW values in JavaScript:

This should do it:

$('textarea').keyup(function(){
   alert(this.value);
});

To read already entered value (not when user types it), use:

$('textarea').each(function(index, item) {
    alert(this.value);
});