JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<form action="test.asp">
    
    <textarea id='text'></textarea>
    <input type="text" id="varCount" readonly="true" value="" />
    <p>Words: <span id="wordCount">0</span></p>
</form>

JavaScript

counter = function() {
    var value = $('#text').val();

    if (value.length == 0) {
        $('#wordCount').html(0);
        return;
    }

    var regex = /[,]/g;
    var wordCount = value.trim().replace(regex, ' ').split(' ').length;

    $('#wordCount').html(wordCount);
    $('#varCount').val(wordCount);
};

$(document).ready(function() {
    $('#count').click(counter);
    $('#text').change(counter);
    $('#text').keydown(counter);
    $('#text').keypress(counter);
    $('#text').keyup(counter);
    $('#text').blur(counter);
    $('#text').focus(counter);
});