Is there a way to fix the issue of values from Textareas with multiple lines not getting parsed correctly in Webflow Logic when posting to an external API?
TL;DR
- Use Webflow's Replace block to sanitize textarea input by converting newline characters to the format expected by the API (e.g., \n,
, or %0A). - Ensure the HTTP Request block sets Content-Type to application/json and properly escapes special characters in the JSON body.
When using Webflow Logic to send multi-line Textarea values to an external API, you may encounter issues where line breaks or special characters interfere with transmission. This typically happens due to improper content encoding or formatting.
1. Understand How Textareas Work
- Textarea inputs in forms allow users to enter multi-line text using newline characters (
\n). - When submitted via Logic HTTP Request blocks, these line breaks may not be properly serialized, causing issues with JSON formatting or API expectations.
2. Use the "Replace" Logic Block to Sanitize Input
- Use the Replace block before the HTTP Request to convert problematic characters.
- Common replacements:
- Replace line breaks (
\n) with a placeholder (\\n,<br>, or\\) depending on what your API expects. - If your API expects URL-encoded data, consider replacing newlines with
%0A.
3. Ensure Correct JSON Encoding in HTTP Request
- In your Logic HTTP Request block, ensure:
- Content-Type is set to
application/json. - The textarea value is enclosed within double quotes and the content is properly escaped.
- Use single-line strings in the JSON body with escaped newline characters if needed.
4. Try Preprocessing the Value in a Script Before It Hits Webflow (Optional)
- If using custom code is an option, you can sanitize textarea values with JavaScript before form submission, converting newlines to acceptable formats.
5. Verify API Expectations
- Check what format the external API expects:
- Actual newlines (
\n) inside strings? - Escaped sequences (
\\n)? - HTML (
<br>)?
Mapping Webflow's textarea directly to an API JSON body without conversion often causes parsing failures.
Summary
Textarea values with line breaks in Webflow Logic can break API calls if not properly handled. Use the Replace block to sanitize the text before sending and ensure your HTTP Request block's JSON body is correctly formatted for the target API's expectations.