HTML attribute: readonly

The Boolean readonly attribute, when present, makes the element not mutable, meaning the user can not edit the control.

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Overview

If the readonly attribute is specified on an input element, because the user can not edit the input, the element does not participate in constraint validation.

The readonly attribute is supported by text, search, url, tel, email, password, date, month, week, time, datetime-local, and number <input> types and the <textarea> form control elements. If present on any of these input types and elements, the :read-only pseudo class will match. If the attribute is not included, the :read-write pseudo class will match.

The attribute is not supported or relevant to <select> or input types that are already not mutable, such as checkbox and radio or cannot, by definition, start with a value, such as the file input type. range and color, as both have default values. It is also not supported on hidden as it can not be expected that a user to fill out a form that is hidden. Nor is it supported on any of the button types, including image.

Note: Only text controls can be made read-only, since for other controls (such as checkboxes and buttons) there is no useful distinction between being read-only and being disabled, so the readonly attribute does not apply.

When an input has the readonly attribute, the :read-only pseudo-class also applies to it. Conversely, inputs that support the readonly attribute but don't have the attribute set match the :read-write pseudo-class.

Attribute interactions

The difference between disabled and readonly is that read-only controls can still function and are still focusable, whereas disabled controls can not receive focus and are not submitted with the form and generally do not function as controls until they are enabled.

Because a read-only field cannot have its value changed by a user interaction, required does not have any effect on inputs with the readonly attribute also specified.

The only way to modify dynamically the value of the readonly attribute is through a script.

Note: The required attribute is not permitted on inputs with the readonly attribute specified.

Usability

Browsers display the readonly attribute.

Constraint validation

If the element is read-only, then the element's value can not be updated by the user, and does not participate in constraint validation.

Example

HTML

html

<div class="group">
  <input type="text" value="Some value" readonly="readonly" id="text" />
  <label for="text">Text box</label>
</div>
<div class="group">
  <input type="date" value="2020-01-01" readonly="readonly" id="date" />
  <label for="date">Date</label>
</div>
<div class="group">
  <input type="email" value="Some value" readonly="readonly" id="email" />
  <label for="email">Email</label>
</div>
<div class="group">
  <input type="password" value="Some value" readonly="readonly" id="pwd" />
  <label for="pwd">Password</label>
</div>
<div class="group">
  <textarea readonly="readonly" id="ta">Some value</textarea>
  <label for="ta">Message</label>
</div>

Result

Specifications

Specification
HTML Standard
# the-readonly-attribute

Browser compatibility

html.elements.input.readonly

BCD tables only load in the browser

html.elements.textarea.readonly

BCD tables only load in the browser

See also