`:disabled` CSS pseudo-class

The :disabled CSS pseudo-class represents any disabled element. An element is disabled if it can’t be activated (selected, clicked on, typed into, etc.) or accept focus. The element also has an enabled state, in which it can be activated or accept focus.

label {
  display: block;
  margin-top: 1em;
}

*:disabled {
  background-color: dimgrey;
  color: linen;
  opacity: 1;
}

<form>
  <label for="name">Name:</label>
  <input id="name" name="name" type="text" />

  <label for="emp">Employed:</label>
  <select id="emp" name="emp" disabled>
    <option>No</option>
    <option>Yes</option>
  </select>

  <label for="empDate">Employment Date:</label>
  <input id="empDate" name="empDate" type="date" disabled />

  <label for="resume">Resume:</label>
  <input id="resume" name="resume" type="file" />
</form>

Syntax

:disabled {
  /* ... */
}

Examples

This example shows a basic shipping form. It uses the JavaScript change event to let the user enable/disable the billing fields.

HTML

<form action="#">
  <fieldset id="shipping">
    <legend>Shipping address</legend>
    <input type="text" placeholder="Name" />
    <input type="text" placeholder="Address" />
    <input type="text" placeholder="Zip Code" />
  </fieldset>
  <br />
  <fieldset id="billing">
    <legend>Billing address</legend>
    <label for="billing-checkbox">Same as shipping address:</label>
    <input type="checkbox" id="billing-checkbox" checked />
    <br />
    <input type="text" placeholder="Name" disabled />
    <input type="text" placeholder="Address" disabled />
    <input type="text" placeholder="Zip Code" disabled />
  </fieldset>
</form>

CSS

input[type="text"]:disabled {
  background: #cccccc;
}

JavaScript

Toggle the disabled input fields when the checkbox is clicked

const checkbox = document.querySelector("#billing-checkbox");
const billingItems = document.querySelectorAll('#billing input[type="text"]');

checkbox.addEventListener("change", () => {
  billingItems.forEach((item) => {
    item.disabled = !item.disabled;
  });
});

Result

Check/un-check the checkbox to change the styling on the billing fields.

Specifications

Browser compatibility

See also

• :enabled