user-select

The user-select CSS property controls whether the user can select text. This doesn't have any effect on content loaded as chrome, except in textboxes.

/* Keyword values */
user-select: none;
user-select: auto;
user-select: text;
user-select: contain;
user-select: all;

/* Global values */
user-select: inherit;
user-select: initial;
user-select: unset;

/* Mozilla-specific values */
-moz-user-select: none;
-moz-user-select: text;
-moz-user-select: all;

/* WebKit-specific values */
-webkit-user-select: none;
-webkit-user-select: text;
-webkit-user-select: all; /* Doesn't work in Safari; use only
                             "none" or "text", or else it will
                             allow typing in the <html> container */

/* Microsoft-specific values */
-ms-user-select: none;
-ms-user-select: text;
-ms-user-select: element;

Note: user-select is not an inherited property, though the initial auto value makes it behave like it is inherited most of the time. WebKit/Chromium-based browsers do implement the property as inherited, which violates the behavior described in the spec, and this will bring some issues. Until now, Chromium chooses to fix the issues, make the final behavior meets the specifications.

Syntax

none
The text of the element and its sub-elements is not selectable. Note that the Selection object can contain these elements.
auto

The used value of auto is determined as follows:

  • On the ::before and ::after pseudo elements, the used value is none
  • If the element is an editable element, the used value is contain
  • Otherwise, if the used value of user-select on the parent of this element is all, the used value is all
  • Otherwise, if the used value of user-select on the parent of this element is none, the used value is none
  • Otherwise, the used value is text
text
The text can be selected by the user.
all
The content of the element shall be selected atomically: If a selection would contain part of the element, then the selection must contain the entire element including all its descendants. If a double-click or context-click occurred in sub-elements, the highest ancestor with this value will be selected.
contain
Enables selection to start within the element; however, the selection will be contained by the bounds of that element.
element (IE-specific alias)
Same as contain. Supported only in Internet Explorer.

Note: CSS UI 4 renames user-select: element to contain.

Formal definition

Initial valueauto
Applies toall elements
Inheritedno
Computed valueas specified
Animation typediscrete

Formal syntax

auto | text | none | contain | all

Examples

HTML

<p>You should be able to select this text.</p>
<p class="unselectable">Hey, you can't select this text!</p>
<p class="all">Clicking once will select all of this text.</p>

CSS

.unselectable {
  -moz-user-select: none;
  -webkit-user-select: none;
  -ms-user-select: none;
  user-select: none;
}

.all {
  -moz-user-select: all;
  -webkit-user-select: all;
  -ms-user-select: all;
  user-select: all;
}

Result

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
CSS Basic User Interface Module Level 4
The definition of 'user-select' in that specification.		 Working Draft Initial definition. Also defines -webkit-user-select as a deprecated alias of user-select.

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobile
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung Internet
user-selectChrome Full support 54
Full support 54
Full support 1
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Edge Full support 12
Prefixed
Full support 12
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -ms-
Full support 12
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Firefox Full support 69
Full support 69
Full support 1
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -moz-
Full support 49
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Full support 44
Prefixed Disabled
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Disabled From version 44: this feature is behind the layout.css.prefixes.webkit preference (needs to be set to true). To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config.
IE Full support 10
Prefixed
Full support 10
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -ms-
Opera Full support 15
Prefixed
Full support 15
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Safari Full support 3
Prefixed
Full support 3
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
No support 2 — 3
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -khtml-
WebView Android Full support 54
Full support 54
Full support ≤37
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Chrome Android Full support 54
Full support 54
Full support 18
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Firefox Android Full support 4
Prefixed
Full support 4
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -moz-
Full support 49
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Full support 44
Prefixed Disabled
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Disabled From version 44: this feature is behind the layout.css.prefixes.webkit preference (needs to be set to true). To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config.
Opera Android Full support 14
Prefixed
Full support 14
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Safari iOS Full support 3
Prefixed
Full support 3
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
Samsung Internet Android Full support 6.0
Full support 6.0
Full support 1.0
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -webkit-
allChrome Full support 53Edge Full support 79Firefox Full support 1IE No support NoOpera Full support 40Safari No support NoWebView Android Full support 53Chrome Android Full support 53Firefox Android Full support 4Opera Android Full support 41Safari iOS No support NoSamsung Internet Android Full support 6.0
autoChrome Full support 1Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 1IE Full support 10Opera Full support 15Safari Full support 2WebView Android Full support ≤37Chrome Android Full support 18Firefox Android Full support 4Opera Android Full support 14Safari iOS Full support 3Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0
containChrome No support NoEdge No support 12 — 79
Alternate Name
No support 12 — 79
Alternate Name
Alternate Name Uses the non-standard name: element
Firefox No support NoIE Full support 10
Alternate Name
Full support 10
Alternate Name
Alternate Name Uses the non-standard name: element
Opera No support NoSafari No support NoWebView Android No support NoChrome Android No support NoFirefox Android No support NoOpera Android No support NoSafari iOS No support NoSamsung Internet Android No support No
noneChrome Full support 1Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 21
Full support 21
No support 1 — 65
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -moz-
IE Full support 10Opera Full support 15Safari Full support 2WebView Android Full support ≤37Chrome Android Full support 18Firefox Android Full support 21
Full support 21
No support 4 — 65
Prefixed
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -moz-
Opera Android Full support 14Safari iOS Full support 3Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0
textChrome Full support 1Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 1IE Full support 10Opera Full support 15Safari Partial support 2
Notes
Partial support 2
Notes
Notes Allows typing in the <html> container.
WebView Android Full support ≤37Chrome Android Full support 18Firefox Android Full support 4Opera Android Full support 14Safari iOS Partial support 3
Notes
Partial support 3
Notes
Notes Allows typing in the <html> container.
Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0

Legend

Full support
Full support
Partial support
Partial support
No support
No support
See implementation notes.
See implementation notes.
User must explicitly enable this feature.
User must explicitly enable this feature.
Uses a non-standard name.
Uses a non-standard name.
Requires a vendor prefix or different name for use.
Requires a vendor prefix or different name for use.

See also