resize

The resize CSS sets whether an element is resizable, and if so, in which direction(s).

/* Keyword values */
resize: none;
resize: both;
resize: horizontal;
resize: vertical;
resize: block;
resize: inline;
/* Global values */
resize: inherit;
resize: initial;
resize: unset;

Initial value	`none`
Applies to	elements with `overflow` other than `visible`, and optionally replaced elements representing images or videos, and iframes
Inherited	no
Media	visual
Computed value	as specified
Animation type	discrete
Canonical order	the unique non-ambiguous order defined by the formal grammar

Syntax

The resize property is specified as a single keyword value from the list below.

Values

none: The element offers no user-controllable method for resizing it.
both: The element displays a mechanism for allowing the user to resize it, which may be resized both horizontally and vertically.
horizontal: The element displays a mechanism for allowing the user to resize it in the horizontal direction.
vertical: The element displays a mechanism for allowing the user to resize it in the vertical direction.
block: The element displays a mechanism for allowing the user to resize it in the block direction (either horizontally or vertically, depending on the writing-mode and direction value).
inline: The element displays a mechanism for allowing the user to resize it in the inline direction (either horizontally or vertically, depending on the writing-mode and direction value).

Note: resize does not apply to blocks for which the overflow property is set to visible.

Formal syntax

none | both | horizontal | vertical

Examples

Disabling resizability of textareas

In many browsers, <textarea> elements are resizable by default. You may override this behavior with the resize property.

CSS

textarea {
  resize: none; /* Disables resizability */
}

HTML

<textarea>Type some text here.</textarea>

Result

Using resize with arbitrary elements

You can use the resize property to make any element resizable. In the example below, a resizable <div> box contains a resizable paragraph (<p> element).

CSS

.resizable {
  resize: both;
  overflow: scroll;
  border: 1px solid black;
}
div {
  height: 300px;
  width: 300px;
}
p {
  height: 200px;
  width: 200px;
}

HTML

<div class="resizable">
  <p class="resizable">
    This paragraph is resizable in all directions, because
    the CSS `resize` property is set to `both` on this element.
  </p>
</div>

Result

Specifications

Specification	Status	Comment
CSS Logical Properties Level 1 The definition of 'resize' in that specification.	Editor's Draft	Adds the values `block` and `inline`.
CSS Basic User Interface Module Level 3 The definition of 'resize' in that specification.	Candidate Recommendation	Initial definition.

Feature	Chrome	Firefox (Gecko)	Internet Explorer	Opera	Safari (WebKit)
Basic support (on `<textarea>`)	1.0	4.0 (2.0)-moz	No support	12.1	3.0 (522)
On any block-level and replaced element, table cell, and inline block element (unless `overflow` is `visible`)	4.0	5.0 (5.0)[1]	No support	15	4.0

Feature	Android	Firefox Mobile (Gecko)	IE Phone	Opera Mobile	Safari Mobile
Basic support (on `<textarea>`)	?	?	?	?	?
On any block-level and replaced element, table cell, and inline block element (unless `overflow` is `visible`)	?	?	?	?	?

[1] resize doesn't have any effect on <iframe> (cf. bug 680823)

Syntax

Values

Formal syntax

Examples

Disabling resizability of textareas

CSS

HTML

Result

Using resize with arbitrary elements

CSS

HTML

Result

Specifications

Browser compatibility

See also

Document Tags and Contributors