How to Disable Text Selection Using Pure CSS – The Right Way

In the world of web design and content protection, one common question that developers and site owners often ask is: "How do I prevent users from selecting or copying my website content?" While JavaScript offers several workarounds, the cleanest and most efficient method is using pure CSS.

Illustration of CSS user-select: none property used to prevent text selection across browsers

In this blog post, I, Jaydatt Khodave, will explain how to disable text selection using pure CSS only, without relying on JavaScript or external libraries. This guide is especially useful if you want to protect content or improve user experience by restricting accidental text selection.

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What is user-select in CSS?

The user-select CSS property controls whether the user can select text. By setting it to none, you can stop the user from highlighting and copying content from the page.

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CSS Code to Disable Text Selection Globally

Here’s how to disable text selection for every element on your web page:

* {
  -webkit-user-select: none;  /* Safari */
  -moz-user-select: none;     /* Firefox */
  -ms-user-select: none;      /* Internet Explorer/Edge */
  user-select: none;          /* Standard syntax */
}

This snippet ensures maximum browser compatibility by using vendor prefixes. It effectively disables selection across all elements including paragraphs, divs, and headings.

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Why You Should Be Cautious with Global Disabling

While the above code works perfectly, applying it globally (*) might harm the user experience. Here's why:

• Users can't select text inside input fields or textareas.
• Copy-paste functionality for forms is blocked.
• It may affect screen reader behavior and accessibility.

Instead of using *, consider adding a specific class to the content you want to protect.

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Recommended: Selective Disabling of Text Selection

To avoid breaking important features, create a reusable class:

.noselect {
  -webkit-user-select: none;
  -moz-user-select: none;
  -ms-user-select: none;
  user-select: none;
}

Then apply it only to specific elements:

<div class="noselect">
  This paragraph cannot be selected or copied.
</div>

<input type="text" placeholder="Users can still select and type here">

This way, you protect only the necessary content without harming the usability of form fields or interactive elements.

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Does This Make Your Content 100% Secure?

No. Disabling text selection is more about discouraging casual copying than preventing it entirely. Users can still inspect the page source, view dev tools, or use browser extensions to access content.

For sensitive data, always secure it on the server-side. CSS alone is not a security solution but can add an extra layer of deterrence.

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Final Thoughts

Disabling text selection using pure CSS is a simple and effective way to prevent users from highlighting and copying content. However, always balance content protection with user accessibility and experience. Use global disabling only when absolutely necessary and prefer selective disabling for specific elements.

As a web developer and blogger passionate about front-end practices, I always recommend writing valuable content first — because content that helps users naturally earns trust and authority.

If you're building a website or blog and want more CSS tips like this, stay connected. For any specific use case, feel free to reach out.