Web/CSS/ valid

The :valid CSS pseudo-class represents any <input> or other <form> element whose contents validate successfully. This allows to easily make valid fields adopt an appearance that helps the user confirm that their data is formatted properly.

/* Selects any valid <input> */
input:valid {
  background-color: powderblue;
}

This pseudo-class is useful for highlighting correct fields for the user.

Syntax

:valid

Examples

Indicating valid and invalid form fields

In this example, we use structures like this, which include extra <span>s to generate content on; we'll use these to provide indicators of valid/invalid data:

<div>
  <label for="fname">First name *: </label>
  <input id="fname" name="fname" type="text" required>
  <span></span>
</div>

To provide these indicators, we use the following CSS:

input + span {
  position: relative;
}

input + span::before {
  position: absolute;
  right: -20px;
  top: 5px;
}

input:invalid {
  border: 2px solid red;
}

input:invalid + span::before {
  content: '✖';
  color: red;
}

input:valid + span::before {
  content: '✓';
  color: green;
}

We set the <span>s to position: relative so that we can position the generated content relative to them. We then absolutely position different generated content depending on whether the form's data is valid or invalid — a green check or a red cross, respectively. To add a bit of extra urgency to the invalid data, we've also given the inputs a thick red border when invalid.

Note: We've used ::before to add these labels, as we were already using ::after for the "required" labels.

You can try it below:

Notice how the required text inputs are invalid when empty, but valid when they have something filled in. The email input on the other hand is valid when empty, as it is not required, but invalid when it contains something that is not a proper email address.

Accessibility concerns

The color green is commonly used to indicate valid input. People who have certain types of color blindness will be unable to determine the input's state unless it is accompanied by an additional indicator that does not rely on color to convey meaning. Typically, descriptive text and/or an icon are used.

Specifications

Specification	Status	Comment
HTML Living StandardThe definition of ':valid' in that specification.	Living Standard	No change.
HTML5The definition of ':valid' in that specification.	Recommendation	Defines the semantics of HTML and constraint validation.
Selectors Level 4The definition of ':valid' in that specification.	Working Draft	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
`:valid`	Chrome Full support 10	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support 4	IE Full support 10	Opera Full support 10	Safari Full support 5	WebView Android Full support 37	Chrome Android Full support 18	Firefox Android Full support 4	Opera Android Full support 10.1	Safari iOS Full support 5	Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0
Applies to `<form>` elements	Chrome Full support 40	Edge Full support 79	Firefox Full support 13	IE No support No	Opera Full support 27	Safari Full support 9	WebView Android Full support 40	Chrome Android Full support 40	Firefox Android Full support 14	Opera Android Full support 27	Safari iOS Full support 9	Samsung Internet Android Full support 4.0

Legend

Full support: Full support
No support: No support