pointer-events
Baseline Widely available
This feature is well established and works across many devices and browser versions. It’s been available across browsers since July 2015.
The pointer-events CSS property sets under what circumstances (if any) a particular graphic element can become the target of pointer events.
Try it
pointer-events: auto;
pointer-events: none;
pointer-events: stroke; /* SVG-only */
pointer-events: fill; /* SVG-only */
<section class="flex-column" id="default-example">
<div id="example-element">
<p>
<a href="#">example link</a>
</p>
<p>
<svg viewBox="0 0 100 100" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
<a xlink:href="#">
<circle
cx="50"
cy="50"
fill="#3E6E84"
r="40"
stroke="#ffb500"
stroke-width="5"></circle>
<text fill="white" text-anchor="middle" x="50" y="55">SVG</text>
</a>
</svg>
</p>
</div>
</section>
#example-element {
font-weight: bold;
}
#example-element a {
color: #009e5f;
}
#example-element svg {
width: 10em;
height: 10em;
}
Syntax
/* Keyword values */
pointer-events: auto;
pointer-events: none;
/* Values used in SVGs */
pointer-events: visiblePainted;
pointer-events: visibleFill;
pointer-events: visibleStroke;
pointer-events: visible;
pointer-events: painted;
pointer-events: fill;
pointer-events: stroke;
pointer-events: bounding-box;
pointer-events: all;
/* Global values */
pointer-events: inherit;
pointer-events: initial;
pointer-events: revert;
pointer-events: revert-layer;
pointer-events: unset;
The pointer-events property is specified as a single keyword chosen from the list of values below.
Values
auto-
The element behaves as it would if the
pointer-eventsproperty were not specified. In SVG content, this value and the valuevisiblePaintedhave the same effect. none-
The element on its own is never the target of pointer events. However its subtree could be kept targetable by setting
pointer-eventsto some other value. In these circumstances, pointer events will trigger event listeners on this parent element as appropriate on their way to or from the descendant during the event capture and bubble phases.Note: The
pointerenterandpointerleaveevents are fired when a pointing device is moved into an element or one of its descendants. So, even ifpointer-events: noneis set on the parent and not set on children, the events are triggered on the parent after the pointer is moved in or out of a descendant.
SVG only (experimental for HTML)
visiblePainted-
SVG only (experimental for HTML). The element can only be the target of a pointer event when the
visibilityproperty is set tovisibleand e.g., when a mouse cursor is over the interior (i.e., 'fill') of the element and thefillproperty is set to a value other thannone, or when a mouse cursor is over the perimeter (i.e., 'stroke') of the element and thestrokeproperty is set to a value other thannone. visibleFill-
SVG only. The element can only be the target of a pointer event when the
visibilityproperty is set tovisibleand when e.g., a mouse cursor is over the interior (i.e., fill) of the element. The value of thefillproperty does not affect event processing. visibleStroke-
SVG only. The element can only be the target of a pointer event when the
visibilityproperty is set tovisibleand e.g., when the mouse cursor is over the perimeter (i.e., stroke) of the element. The value of thestrokeproperty does not affect event processing. visible-
SVG only (experimental for HTML). The element can be the target of a pointer event when the
visibilityproperty is set tovisibleand e.g., the mouse cursor is over either the interior (i.e., fill) or the perimeter (i.e., stroke) of the element. The values of thefillandstrokedo not affect event processing. painted-
SVG only (experimental for HTML). The element can only be the target of a pointer event when e.g., the mouse cursor is over the interior (i.e., 'fill') of the element and the
fillproperty is set to a value other thannone, or when the mouse cursor is over the perimeter (i.e., 'stroke') of the element and thestrokeproperty is set to a value other thannone. The value of thevisibilityproperty does not affect event processing. fill-
SVG only. The element can only be the target of a pointer event when the pointer is over the interior (i.e., fill) of the element. The values of the
fillandvisibilityproperties do not affect event processing. stroke-
SVG only. The element can only be the target of a pointer event when the pointer is over the perimeter (i.e., stroke) of the element. The values of the
strokeandvisibilityproperties do not affect event processing. bounding-box-
SVG only. The element can only be the target of a pointer event when the pointer is over the bounding box of the element.
all-
SVG only (experimental for HTML). The element can only be the target of a pointer event when the pointer is over the interior (i.e., fill) or the perimeter (i.e., stroke) of the element. The values of the
fill,stroke, andvisibilityproperties do not affect event processing.
Description
When this property is unspecified, the same characteristics of the visiblePainted value apply to SVG content.
In addition to indicating that the element is not the target of pointer events, the value none instructs the pointer event to go "through" the element and target whatever is "underneath" that element instead.
Note that preventing an element from being the target of pointer events by using pointer-events does not necessarily mean that pointer event listeners on that element cannot or will not be triggered. If one of the element's children has pointer-events explicitly set to allow that child to be the target of pointer events, then any events targeting that child will pass through the parent as the event travels along the parent chain, and trigger event listeners on the parent as appropriate. Of course any pointer activity at a point on the screen that is covered by the parent but not by the child will not be caught by either the child or the parent (it will go "through" the parent and target whatever is underneath).
Elements with pointer-events: none will still receive focus through sequential keyboard navigation using the Tab key.
Formal definition
| Initial value | auto |
|---|---|
| Applies to | all elements |
| Inherited | yes |
| Computed value | as specified |
| Animation type | discrete |
Formal syntax
Examples
Disabling pointer events on all images
This example disables pointer events (clicking, dragging, hovering, etc.) on all images.
img {
pointer-events: none;
}
Disabling pointer events on a single link
This example disables pointer events on the link to http://example.com.
HTML
<ul>
<li><a href="https://developer.mozilla.org">MDN</a></li>
<li><a href="http://example.com">example.com</a></li>
</ul>
CSS
a[href="http://example.com"]
{
pointer-events: none;
}
Result
Specifications
| Specification |
|---|
| CSS Basic User Interface Module Level 4 # pointer-events-control |
| Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) 2 # PointerEventsProperty |
Browser compatibility
See also
user-select- SVG
pointer-eventsattribute - SVG
visibilityattribute PointerEvent
