CSS `pointer-events`: Controlling Pointer Interaction with HTML Elements

Master user interaction control in your web designs using the CSS `pointer-events` property. This tutorial explains how to prevent elements from receiving pointer events (clicks, touches), allowing events to pass through to underlying elements, and creating sophisticated user interfaces.

Controlling Pointer Events with CSS `pointer-events`

Understanding `pointer-events`

The CSS `pointer-events` property controls whether an HTML element can be a target for pointer events (like mouse clicks, touches, etc.). This property affects how an element interacts with mouse and touch input, influencing the element's clickability and responsiveness to user interaction. The `pointer-events` property impacts both events triggered by CSS and JavaScript event listeners. In short, this CSS property impacts how the element interacts with a pointer.

`pointer-events` Property Values

The `pointer-events` property has several values, but only `none` and `auto` are commonly used with HTML elements. Other values are primarily for SVG.

• auto (default): The element responds normally to pointer events.
• none: The element is completely ignored by pointer events. Clicks and hovers will pass through it as if it were invisible. This makes the element effectively unclickable and makes underlying elements clickable.
• initial: Resets the property to its default value (`auto`).
• inherit: Inherits the value from its parent element.

Examples of `pointer-events`

The following examples illustrate the `none` and `auto` values for the `pointer-events` property. You would need corresponding HTML elements (e.g., divs, one on top of the other) to see these effects in a browser. The `pointer-events` property is applied directly to the HTML element.

Example 1: `pointer-events: none;`

In this example, the top element is set to `pointer-events: none;`. Pointer events will pass through this element, allowing interaction with the underlying element.

.top-element {
  pointer-events: none;
  /*Other styles*/
}

Example 2: `pointer-events: auto;`

This example shows the default behavior (`auto`), where the element responds normally to pointer events.

.top-element {
  pointer-events: auto;
  /*Other styles*/
}

Conclusion

The `pointer-events` property offers a powerful way to manage how elements interact with pointer input. The `none` value is particularly useful for creating overlays or situations where you want clicks to pass through an element to interact with underlying content. Using `pointer-events` effectively requires considering how it affects both CSS and JavaScript event handling.