resize property CSS Reference



Definition and Usage

The resize CSS property lets you control the resizability of an element.

  • Initial none
  • Applies to elements with overflow other than visible
  • Inherited no
  • Media visual
  • Computed Value as specified
  • Animatable no
  • Canonical order the unique non-ambiguous order defined by the formal grammar

Syntax

Formal syntax: none | both | horizontal | vertical
resize: none
resize: both
resize: horizontal
resize: vertical
resize: inherit

Values

none
The element offers no user-controllable method for resizing the element.
both
The element displays a mechanism for allowing the user to resize the element, which may be resized both horizontally and vertically.
horizontal
The element displays a mechanism for allowing the user to resize the element, which may only be resized horizontally.
vertical
The element displays a mechanism for allowing the user to resize the element, which may only be resized vertically.

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


Examples

Disabling resizability of textareas

By default, <textarea> elements are resizable in Gecko 2.0 (Firefox 4). You may override this behavior with the CSS shown below:
textarea.example {
  resize: none; /* disables resizability */
}

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):
<div style="resize:both; overflow:scroll; width:300px; height:300px; border:1px solid black">
  <p style="resize:both; overflow:scroll; width:200px; height:200px; border:1px solid black">
    This paragraph is resizable, because the CSS resize property is set to 'both' on this
    element.
  </p>
</div>

Compatibility

Desktop browsers

Feature Chrome Firefox (Gecko) Internet Explorer Opera Safari (WebKit)
Basic support (on <textarea>) 1.0 4.0 (2.0)-moz Not supported Not supported 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) Not supported Not supported 4.0

Mobile browsers

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

Relative articles