<input> TAG, maxlength <textarea> TAG no maxlength ?

Maxlenght is a nice property which you can use with the input tag, I want to use that property together with <textarea> .... I want to be able to control how many characters my user puts in, how do I do that .... ? I could write a short javascript using Length and calling it from onchange, but i want my function to be identical with the maxlength. please ... greetings ingimar