Use the CGI module to capture the data. Also use the POST method to avoid sending the data in the URL.

Form:

<FORM action="handler.cgi" method=POST>
<TEXTAREA name="textarea1"></TEXTAREA>
<input type="submit" value="Submit">
</FORM>
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CGI:

use CGI;
my $cgi = new CGI;

my $user_input = $cgi->param('textarea1');
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