# Text field character counter
Character counter is used if there is a character limit. It displays the ratio of characters used and the total character limit.
## Basic usage
### HTML structure
```html
0 / 140
```
> NOTE: Place this inside `.mdc-text-field-helper-line` for single line mdc text field which is an immediate sibling of `.mdc-text-field` and
> place it as first element of `.mdc-text-field` for multi-line text field variant (textarea).
### Styles
```scss
@use "@material/textfield/character-counter";
@include character-counter.character-counter-core-styles;
```
### JavaScript instantiation
```js
import {MDCTextFieldCharacterCounter} from '@material/textfield/character-counter';
const characterCounter = new MDCTextFieldCharacterCounter(document.querySelector('.mdc-text-field-character-counter'));
```
## API
### CSS classes
CSS Class | Description
--- | ---
`mdc-text-field-character-counter` | Mandatory.
### Sass mixins
Mixin | Description
--- | ---
`mdc-text-field-character-counter-color($color)` | Customizes the color of the character counter associated with an enabled text field.
`mdc-text-field-disabled-character-counter-color($color)` | Customizes the color of the character counter associated with a disabled text field.
`mdc-text-field-character-counter-position($xOffset, $yOffset)` | Positions the character counter element inside text field. Used only for textarea variant.
## `MDCTextFieldCharacterCounter` properties and methods
Property | Value Type | Description
--- | --- | ---
`foundation` | `MDCTextFieldCharacterCounterFoundation` | Returns the character counter's foundation. This allows the parent `MDCTextField` component to access the public methods on the `MDCTextFieldCharacterCounterFoundation` class.
## Usage within frameworks
If you are using a JavaScript framework, such as React or Angular, you can create a Character Counter for your framework. Depending on your needs, you can use the _Simple Approach: Wrapping MDC Web Vanilla Components_, or the _Advanced Approach: Using Foundations and Adapters_. Please follow the instructions [here](../../../docs/integrating-into-frameworks.md).
### `MDCTextFieldCharacterCounterAdapter`
Method Signature | Description
--- | ---
`setContent(content: string) => void` | Sets the text content of character counter element.
### `MDCTextFieldCharacterCounterFoundation`
Method Signature | Description
--- | ---
`setCounterValue(currentLength: number, maxLength: number) => void` | Sets the character counter values including characters used and total character limit.