Input Text Problem

i created an input text box that puts the users input into a global variable, but when i test it it gives me not only what i have typed in but all the html formatting for the font that my input text box has on it. I only want the text that i have typed in to go into the variable but the wackload of html is going in there too. ive tried a few different things, rewriting my code, recreating the text box, changing settings, dont know what im missing.