:read-only

Baseline Widely available

This feature is well established and works across many devices and browser versions. It’s been available across browsers since July 2020.

The :read-only CSS pseudo-class selects elements (such as certain <input> types and <textarea>) that are not editable by the user. Elements on which the HTML attribute readonly doesn't have an effect (such as <input type="radio">, <input type="checkbox">, and all other non-form elements) are also selected by the :read-only pseudo-class. In fact, :read-only matches anything that :read-write doesn't match, making it equivalent to :not(:read-write).

Try it

Syntax

css

:read-only {
  /* ... */
}

Examples

Confirming form information using read-only or read-write controls

One use of read-only form controls is to allow the user to check and verify information that they may have entered in an earlier form (for example, shipping details), while still being able to submit the information along with the rest of the form. We do just this in the example below.

The :read-only pseudo-class is used to remove all the styling that makes the inputs look like clickable fields, making them look more like read-only paragraphs. The :read-write pseudo-class on the other hand is used to provide some nicer styling to the editable <textarea>.

<form>
  <fieldset>
    <legend>Check shipping details</legend>
    <div>
      <label for="name">Name: </label>
      <input id="name" name="name" type="text" value="Mr Soft" readonly />
    </div>
    <div>
      <label for="address">Address: </label>
      <textarea id="address" name="address" readonly>
23 Elastic Way,
Viscous,
Bright Ridge,
CA
</textarea
      >
    </div>
    <div>
      <label for="pcode">Zip/postal code: </label>
      <input id="pcode" name="pcode" type="text" value="94708" readonly />
    </div>
  </fieldset>

  <fieldset>
    <legend>Final instructions</legend>
    <div>
      <label for="sms-confirm">Send confirmation by SMS?</label>
      <input id="sms-confirm" name="sms-confirm" type="checkbox" />
    </div>
    <div>
      <label for="instructions">Any special instructions?</label>
      <textarea id="instructions" name="instructions"></textarea>
    </div>
  </fieldset>

  <div><button type="submit">Amend details and submit</button></div>
</form>

body {
  font-family: "Josefin Sans", sans-serif;
  margin: 20px auto;
  max-width: 460px;
}

fieldset {
  padding: 10px 30px 0;
  margin-bottom: 20px;
}

legend {
  color: white;
  background: black;
  padding: 5px 10px;
}

fieldset > div {
  margin-bottom: 20px;
  display: flex;
  justify-content: space-between;
}

button,
label,
input[type="text"],
textarea {
  display: block;
  font-family: inherit;
  font-size: 100%;
  padding: 0;
  margin: 0;
  box-sizing: border-box;
  padding: 5px;
  height: 30px;
}

input[type="text"],
textarea {
  width: 50%;
}

textarea {
  height: 110px;
  resize: none;
}

label {
  width: 40%;
}

input:hover,
input:focus,
textarea:hover,
textarea:focus {
  background-color: #eee;
}

button {
  width: 60%;
  margin: 20px auto;
}

css

input:read-only,
textarea:read-only {
  border: 0;
  box-shadow: none;
  background-color: #ddd;
}

textarea:read-write {
  outline: 1px dashed red;
  outline-offset: 2px;
  border-radius: 5px;
}

Styling read-only non-form controls

This selector doesn't just select <input>/<textarea> elements — it will select any element that cannot be edited by the user.

html

<p contenteditable>This paragraph is editable; it is read-write.</p>

<p>This paragraph is not editable; it is read-only.</p>

css

p {
  font-size: 150%;
  padding: 5px;
  border-radius: 5px;
}

p:read-only {
  background-color: red;
  color: white;
}

p:read-write {
  background-color: lime;
}

Specifications

Specification
HTML Standard # selector-read-only
Selectors Level 4 # rw-pseudos

Browser compatibility

BCD tables only load in the browser