verify text entry in a textarea doesn't work

I have some error checking routines for my web forms, and they are working great except for one field, a textarea field. I am using the following code, but it does not give an error when the field is empty: if (empty($feedback)) { $errmsg .= "<font color='red'><li>You might want to enter some comments</li></font>\n"; } I use the same type of checking on input type="text" boxes and it works fine. Any ideas why it doesn't work on a textarea field? -- Chip Wiegand Computer Services Simrad, Inc www.simradusa.com chip.wiegand@simrad.com "There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home." --Ken Olson, president, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corporation, 1977 (They why do I have 9? Somebody help me!)