ime-mode

The ime-mode CSS property controls the state of the input method editor for text fields. According to the spec:

"ime-mode" is a property somewhat implemented in some browsers, that is problematic and officially obsoleted by this specification...

User agents are instructed by the spec to not support ime-mode and authors are advised not to use it, unless to undo the property if it was previously set by legacy code. It was introduced by Microsoft with Internet Explorer 5 as a proprietary extension: -ms-ime-mode Attribute | imeMode Property

Syntax

ime-mode: auto;
ime-mode: normal;
ime-mode: active;
ime-mode: inactive;
ime-mode: disabled;

/* Global values */
ime-mode: inherit;
ime-mode: initial;
ime-mode: unset;

Values

auto

No change is made to the current input method editor state. This is the default.

normal

The IME state should be normal; this value can be used in a user style sheet to override the page's setting. This value is not supported by Internet Explorer.

active

The input method editor is initially active; text entry is performed through it unless the user specifically dismisses it. Not supported on Linux.

inactive

The input method editor is initially inactive, but the user may activate it if they wish. Not supported on Linux.

disabled

The input method editor is disabled and may not be activated by the user.

Formal syntax

auto | normal | active | inactive | disabled

Examples

<input type="text" name="name" value="initial value" style="ime-mode: disabled">

This example disables input method support for a field. This was a common practice for fields that enter data into databases that don't support extended character sets, for example. However:

Notes

Unlike Internet Explorer, Firefox's implementation of ime-mode allows this property on <input type="password">. However, this makes for a bad user experience, and password fields should not enable the IME. Users may correct the inappropriate behavior of sites that don't follow this recommendation by placing the following CSS into their user stylesheet:

input[type=password] {
    ime-mode: auto !important;
}

The Macintosh version of Gecko 1.9 (Firefox 3) can't recover the previous state of the IME when a field for which it is disabled loses focus, so Mac users may get grumpy when you use the disabled value.

Specifications

Browser compatibility

[1] IE8 introduced -ms-ime-mode as a vendor-prefix for ime-mode. Don't use the -ms- prefix.