Sometime you may want to insert a `tab` character (for indent) in a `textarea` element. By default when user hit the `tab` key the current focus element will move to the next element. 

### Add a \t into your current position

By insert a `\t` character right after the current cursor position

```js
// target element
$('#my-textarea').on('keydown', function(evt) {
	
	// get the key code
	var keyCode = evt.keyCode || evt.which;
	
	// tab key
	if (keyCode == 9) {
		
		// prevent default action of key down
		evt.preventDefault();

		// get the textarea DOMElement
		var textarea = this;

		// get the value of textarea
		var value = $(textarea).val();

		// get the cursor current position
		var start = textarea.selectionStart;

		// get the cursor selection end position (if there some text selected)
		var end = textarea.selectionEnd;

		// string before start position
		var start_string = value.substring(0, start);

		// string after end position
		var end_string = value.substring(end, value.length);

		// insert string
		var insert_string = '\t';

		// insert the insert string between string string and end string
		var new_value = start_string + insert_string + end_string;

		// set a new value to textarea
		$(textarea).val(new_value);

		// set the cursor position right after the string just inserted
		textarea.setSelectionRange(start + insert_string.length, start + insert_string.length);
	}
});
```