// original idea from blockloop: http://stackoverflow.com/a/24090733 app.directive('elastic', [ '$timeout', function($timeout) { return { restrict: 'A', link: function($scope, element) { $scope.initialHeight = $scope.initialHeight || element[0].style.height; var resize = function() { element[0].style.height = $scope.initialHeight; element[0].style.height = "" + element[0].scrollHeight + "px"; }; element.on("input change", resize); $timeout(resize, 0); } }; } ]);