title: Maximum length for MySQL type text
body: <p>I'm creating a form for sending private messages and want to set the <code>maxlength</code> value of a textarea appropriate to the max length of a <code>text</code> field in my MySQL database table. How many characters can a type text field store?</p>
  
  <p>If a lot, would I be able to specify length in the database text type field as I would with varchar?</p>