The :read-write CSS pseudo-class represents an element (such as input or textarea) that is editable by the user.
/* Selects any <input> element that is editable */
/* Supported in Firefox with a prefix */
input:-moz-read-write {
background-color: #bbf;
}
/* Supported in Blink/WebKit/Edge without a prefix */
input:read-write {
background-color: #bbf;
}
Note: This selector doesn't just select <input>/<textarea> it will select any element that can be edited by the user, such as a <p> element with contenteditable set on it.
Syntax
:read-write
Example
HTML
<input type="text" value="Type whatever you want here."> <input type="text" value="This is a read-only field." readonly> <p>This is a normal paragraph.</p> <p contenteditable="true">You can edit this paragraph!</p>
CSS
input { min-width: 25em; }
input:-moz-read-write { background: cyan; }
input:read-write { background: cyan; }
p:-moz-read-write { background: lightgray; }
p:read-write { background: lightgray; }
p[contenteditable="true"] { color: blue; }
Result
Specifications
| Specification | Status | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| HTML Living Standard The definition of ':read-write' in that specification. |
Living Standard | No change. |
| HTML5 The definition of ':read-write' in that specification. |
Recommendation | Defines the semantics regarding HTML and constraint validation. |
| Selectors Level 4 The definition of ':read-write' in that specification. |
Working Draft | Defines the pseudo-class, but not the associated semantics. |
Browser compatibility
The compatibility table on this page is generated from structured data. If you'd like to contribute to the data, please check out https://github.com/mdn/browser-compat-data and send us a pull request.
Update compatibility data on GitHub
| Desktop | Mobile | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
:read-write | Chrome Full support 1 | Edge Full support 13 | Firefox
Full support
1.5
| IE No support No | Opera Full support Yes | Safari Full support 4 | WebView Android Full support ≤37 | Chrome Android Full support 18 | Firefox Android
Full support
4
| Opera Android Full support Yes | Safari iOS Full support 3.2 | Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0 |
Matches editable elements that are neither <input> elements nor <textarea> elements | Chrome No support No | Edge No support No | Firefox Full support 1.5 | IE No support No | Opera No support No | Safari No support No | WebView Android No support No | Chrome Android No support No | Firefox Android Full support 4 | Opera Android No support No | Safari iOS No support No | Samsung Internet Android No support No |
Legend
- Full support
- Full support
- No support
- No support
- See implementation notes.
- See implementation notes.
- Requires a vendor prefix or different name for use.
- Requires a vendor prefix or different name for use.
See also
:read-only- HTML
contenteditableattribute
Document Tags and Contributors
Tags:
Contributors to this page:
mdnwebdocs-bot,
ramiy,
fscholz,
mfluehr,
chrisdavidmills,
erikadoyle,
Sebastianz,
Seyedi,
cvrebert,
Lemondoge,
kscarfone,
teoli,
Sheppy,
ethertank,
mkato
Last updated by:
mdnwebdocs-bot,