Summary

The :enabled CSS pseudo-class represents any enabled element. An element is enabled if it can be activated (e.g. selected, clicked on or accept text input) or accept focus. The element also has an disabled state, in which it can't be activated or accept focus.

Example

The following will make the text color a medium green shade when enabled, and a gray shade when disabled. This allows for feedback to the user of which elements are interactable or not.

The following HTML...

    <form action="url_of_form">
      <label for="FirstField">First field (enabled):</label> <input type="text" id="FirstField" value="Lorem"><br />
      <label for="SecondField">Second field (disabled):</label> <input type="text" id="SecondField" value="Ipsum" disabled="disabled"><br />
      <input type="button" value="Submit" />
    </form>
  

...used with this CSS...

input:enabled {
  color: #22AA22;
}
input:disabled {
  color: #D9D9D9;
}
  

...will result in:

Note that the color of the text on the button is also green, as the button is enabled too.

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
WHATWG HTML Living Standard
The definition of ':enabled' in that specification.
Living Standard No change.
HTML5
The definition of ':enabled' in that specification.
Recommendation Defines the semantic regarding HTML and forms.
Selectors Level 4
The definition of ':enabled' in that specification.
Working Draft No change.
CSS Basic User Interface Module Level 3
The definition of ':enabled' in that specification.
Candidate Recommendation Link to Selectors Level 3.
Selectors Level 3
The definition of ':enabled' in that specification.
Recommendation Defines the pseudo-class, but not the associated semantic.

Browser compatibility

Feature Chrome Firefox (Gecko) Internet Explorer Opera Safari
Basic support 1.0 1.0 (1.7 or earlier) 9.0 9.0 3.1
Feature Android Firefox Mobile (Gecko) IE Mobile Opera Mobile Safari Mobile
Basic support 2.1 1.0 (1) 9.0 9.5 3.1

See also

Document Tags and Contributors

 Last updated by: Sebastianz,