The HTML aria-readonly attribute
The aria-readonly="true" attribute marks a widget's value as not editable, while the widget can still be focused and read. Prefer the native readonly attribute on form fields. Values: true, false.
Overview
The aria-readonly attribute indicates that the value of a widget is not editable but is otherwise operable.
It is a widget state — a condition that can change as the user interacts. Because ARIA does nothing on its own, you must update this value in JavaScript every time the underlying state changes; a stale state is worse than none. And wherever a native element already expresses the same thing (a checkbox's checked state, the disabled attribute, a <details>'s open state), use that instead.
Like all ARIA, aria-readonly changes only the accessibility tree — what assistive technology perceives — never the element's behavior or appearance. The first rule of ARIA applies: if a native HTML element or attribute conveys this, use that instead, and only reach for ARIA when nothing native fits.
Syntax
<div role="textbox" aria-readonly="true">Fixed value</div>Values
| Value |
|---|
| true | false |
Example
<div role="combobox" aria-readonly="true" aria-expanded="false">Choose…</div>Best practices
- Follow the first rule of ARIA — use a native HTML element or attribute that conveys this where one exists, rather than adding ARIA.
- Update the value in JavaScript whenever the state changes — keep it in sync with reality.
- Use the matching native state where one exists (a checkbox's
checked, thedisabledattribute, a <details>'s open state) instead of the ARIA version. - Set it only on an element whose role actually supports this state.