Limited support Use sparingly and only where selection behavior genuinely harms the interaction.

user-select

The user-select CSS property controls whether the user can select text. This doesn't have any effect on content loaded as part of a browser's user interface (its chrome), except in textboxes.

InteractionTextSelection

Browser support

Feature Desktop Mobile
Chrome
Edge
Firefox
Safari
Chrome Android
Safari iOS
user-select
54
79
69
3
54
3
all
53
79
1
16
53
16
auto
1
12
1
2
18
3
none
1
12
21
2
18
3
text
1
12
1
2
18
3
1+Supported (version) Not supported ※Has note Sub-feature descriptions sourced from MDN Web Docs (CC BY-SA 2.5)
Notes 1 item(s)
Compatibility
  • Available with a vendor prefix: -webkit- (1)
Notes 3 item(s)
Compatibility
  • Available with a vendor prefix: -webkit- (12)
  • Available with a vendor prefix: -ms- (12)
Removed
  • This feature was removed in a later browser version (79)
Notes 2 item(s)
Compatibility
  • Available with a vendor prefix: -webkit- (49)
  • Available with a vendor prefix: -moz- (1)
Notes 2 item(s)
Removed
  • This feature was removed in a later browser version (3)
Compatibility
  • Available with a vendor prefix: -khtml- (2)
Notes 1 item(s)
Compatibility
  • Available with a vendor prefix: -webkit- (18)
Notes 2 item(s)
Removed
  • This feature was removed in a later browser version (65)
Compatibility
  • Available with a vendor prefix: -moz- (1)

Syntax

CSS 
.no-select {
  user-select: none;
}
.select-all {
  user-select: all;
}

Live demo

None (selectiondisallow)

CSS None (selectiondisallow) demo.

PreviewFullscreen

All (batchselection)

CSS All (batchselection) demo.

PreviewFullscreen

Text (normalselection)

CSS Text (normalselection) demo.

PreviewFullscreen

Use cases

  • Copy-friendly regions

    Allow code, tokens, or identifiers to be selected cleanly when copying is part of the task.

  • Reducing accidental selection

    Prevent stray text selection on draggable or repeatedly tapped controls.

Cautions

  • Blocking selection on general content can frustrate users who need to copy, highlight, or use assistive workflows.
  • Selection control should solve a real interaction problem rather than act as superficial lock-down.

Accessibility

  • Text selection is a legitimate user need, so disabling it should be the exception, not the default.

Related links