Web/CSS/ focus

The :focus CSS pseudo-class represents an element (such as a form input) that has received focus. It is generally triggered when the user clicks or taps on an element or selects it with the keyboard's Tab key.

/* Selects any <input> when focused */
input:focus {
  color: red;
}

Note: This pseudo-class applies only to the focused element itself. Use :focus-within if you want to select an element that contains a focused element.

Syntax

:focus

Examples

HTML

<input class="red-input" value="I'll be red when focused."><br>
<input class="blue-input" value="I'll be blue when focused.">

CSS

.red-input:focus {
  background: yellow;
  color: red;
}

.blue-input:focus {
  background: yellow;
  color: blue;
}

Result

Accessibility concerns

Make sure the visual focus indicator can be seen by people with low vision. This will also benefit anyone use a screen in a brightly lit space (like outside in the sun). WCAG 2.1 SC 1.4.11 Non-Text Contrast requires that the visual focus indicator be at least 3 to 1.

Accessible Visual Focus Indicators: Give Your Site Some Focus! Tips for Designing Useful and Usable Focus Indicators

`:focus { outline: none; }`

Never just remove the focus outline (visible focus indicator) without replacing it with a focus outline that will pass WCAG 2.1 SC 1.4.11 Non-Text Contrast.

Quick Tip: Never remove CSS outlines

Specifications

Specification	Status	Comment
HTML Living StandardThe definition of ':focus' in that specification.	Living Standard	Defines HTML-specific semantics.
Selectors Level 4The definition of ':focus' in that specification.	Working Draft	No change.
Selectors Level 3The definition of ':focus' in that specification.	Recommendation	No change.
CSS Level 2 (Revision 1)The definition of ':focus' in that specification.	Recommendation	Initial definition.

Browser compatibility

Update compatibility data on GitHub

	Desktop						Mobile
	Chrome	Edge	Firefox	Internet Explorer	Opera	Safari	Android webview	Chrome for Android	Firefox for Android	Opera for Android	Safari on iOS	Samsung Internet
`:focus`	Chrome Full support 1	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support 1	IE Full support 8	Opera Full support 7	Safari Full support 1	WebView Android Full support 1	Chrome Android Full support 18	Firefox Android Full support 4	Opera Android Full support 10.1	Safari iOS Full support 1	Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0

Legend

Full support: Full support