In modern web applications, user experience (UX) plays a key role in success. A common practice to enhance usability is to provide real-time feedback, especially when users are filling out text fields with character limits. However, OutSystems does not natively offer a component that displays the remaining character count in input fields.

To address this need, I developed Character Counter, a lightweight and flexible component available on the OutSystems Forge. This component allows users to view, in real-time, the number of characters used, remaining, and the maximum allowed—greatly improving form interactions.

You can grab the component here: https://www.outsystems.com/forge/component-overview/21405/character-counter-o11
and try a fully functional demo here: https://tiagomlcdias.outsystemscloud.com/BlogArticles/charactercount

Key Features

CharacterCounter is designed for easy integration into Reactive Web applications. Its main features include:

• Live Character Counting: Automatically updates the character count as the user types, without requiring extra logic.
• Customizable Text Output: Developers can define the message shown to users using a flexible TextTemplate that supports the following placeholders:
  • [used]: Number of characters already typed.
  • [remaining]: Number of remaining characters (calculated as MaxCharacters – Used).
  • [max]: The maximum number of characters allowed.
• Efficient Event Management: Uses EventListeners to track changes in input fields and properly removes them in the OnDestroy() method, avoiding memory or performance issues.

Setup and Integration

Integrating Character Counter into your application is straightforward:

1. Import the Component: Add it to your project via the OutSystems Forge.
2. Configure Parameters:
   • MaxCharacters: Set the maximum number of characters allowed.
   • TextTemplate: Customize the message format shown to users using the placeholders mentioned above.
3. Link to Input Field: Bind the component to the desired input field (either Input or TextArea).
4. Optional Debug parameter: Prints debug messages in browser console

In addition, a demo application is provided where you can test the component in different use cases before adding it to your own project.

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The OutSystems Forge is a collaborative repository that enables developers to share and reuse components, accelerating app development.
With Character Counter, my goal is to offer a practical and reusable solution for a common need in web forms.

This component is particularly useful in cases where users need to stay within content limits such as: comment fields, descriptions, or messages – ensuring clear communication of restrictions.

You can try a fully functional demo here: 🔗 https://tiagomlcdias.outsystemscloud.com/BlogArticles/charactercount

Character Counter is a valuable tool for OutSystems developers looking to enhance the UX of their applications. With simple integration, flexible customization, and efficient event handling, this component simplifies the implementation of real-time character counting in forms.

Thank you to everyone who tries the component. I welcome any feedback or suggestions for improvement.