Some HTML attributes allow a short list of values rather than any free-form text. The contenteditable attribute is one of them. Choosing the right value helps the browser know how to handle your content.
Available values
| Value | Meaning |
|---|---|
true | Allow editing |
false | Disable editing |
plaintext-only | Allow editing without rich-text formatting, where supported |
A page example
<label for="notes">Notes</label>
<div id="notes" contenteditable="plaintext-only" role="textbox" aria-multiline="true" aria-label="Notes">Write notes here.</div>What each choice changes
Read the HTML one element at a time. Find the contenteditable value and compare it with the table. These are behavior or presentation hints, not ordinary words displayed on the page.
Editable content is not automatically saved or validated. Consider textarea if you need a form field.
How to choose
Choose the simplest value that matches what your page needs. Test in a current browser, and consider keyboard use and accessibility if this attribute affects what users can reach or edit.
Practice
Copy the example and try another allowed value. After each change, refresh the page and inspect both what is visible and what is available to keyboard and screen-reader users.
Common Beginner Mistakes
- Editable content is not automatically saved or validated. Consider textarea if you need a form field.
- Making up an attribute value and assuming the browser understands it.
- Confusing visible formatting with a control that genuinely changes behavior.
Key Takeaways
contenteditablesupports the documented values shown above.- Editable content is not automatically saved or validated. Consider textarea if you need a form field.
- Test the result in the browser rather than judging only from the source.