Summary

The :indeterminate CSS pseudo-class represents any <input type="checkbox"> element whose indeterminate DOM property is set to true by JavaScript. In addition, in some browsers, it can be used to match to <progress> elements in an indeterminate state.

Example

CSS

input, span {
  background: red;
}

:indeterminate, :indeterminate + span {
  background: limegreen;
}

HTML

<input type="checkbox"> <span>Everything in this paragraph should have a green background.</span>

JavaScript

document.getElementsByTagName("input")[0].indeterminate = true;

Specifications

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

Browser compatibility

Feature Chrome Firefox (Gecko) Internet Explorer Opera Safari
type="checkbox" (Yes) 3.6 (1.9.2) 9.0 10.60 (2.6) 3.0
<progress> 6.0 6.0 (6.0) 10 ? 5.2
Feature Android Firefox Mobile (Gecko) IE Mobile Opera Mobile Safari Mobile
type="checkbox" ? 1.0 (1.9.2) ? ? ?
<progress> ? 6.0 (6.0) ? ? ?

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 Contributors to this page: Sebastianz, fscholz, MusikAnimal, aschiff, tregagnon, teoli, kscarfone, rink.attendant.6, Sheppy, brianloveswords, FredB, fryn, junger, Jürgen Jeka, BijuGC
 Last updated by: Sebastianz,