Conceal form elements while printing an HTML document using CSS styling

Question

Conceal form elements while printing an HTML document using CSS styling

Some HTML form elements come with additional user interface features, such as the up/down arrows on the number input. However, when printing a page, these buttons are unnecessary since they cannot be interacted with in print form.

Dealing with text boxes is straightforward:

@media print {
        input {
            border: none;
            border-bottom: 2px solid #000000;
        }
    }

This style makes text boxes look neat and organized for printing, resembling forms that would traditionally be filled out by hand. Unfortunately, applying similar styling to inputs like number still leaves the unwanted arrow buttons visible:

There are even less valuable printouts, such as range, which provide no useful information when printed on a page:

Is there a way to hide this portion of the element while still displaying the value/text? Perhaps a CSS-only solution exists instead of resorting to swapping out type attributes with JavaScript or using separate elements to hold values for printing purposes.

html css forms

Answer 1

Answer №1

If you want to conceal specific elements on a webpage, one approach is to utilize CSS selectors

@media print {
    input[type=range] {
        display: none;
    }
}

Alternatively, to hide the arrows within a number element, you could consider incorporating two separate elements - one for text and the other for number. Display the number in screen mode while hiding the text, and switch them in print mode.

@media print {
    input[type=text] {
        display: inline-block;
        border:none;
        border-bottom:2px solid #000;
        etc..
    }
    input[type=number] {
        display: none;
    }
}
@media screen {
    input[type=number] {
        display: inline-block;
    }
    input[type=text] {
        display: none;
    }
}

This method can also be applied to other form elements, depending on how your implementation is structured.

Answer 2

If you want to conceal specific elements on a webpage, one approach is to utilize CSS selectors

@media print {
    input[type=range] {
        display: none;
    }
}

Alternatively, to hide the arrows within a number element, you could consider incorporating two separate elements - one for text and the other for number. Display the number in screen mode while hiding the text, and switch them in print mode.

@media print {
    input[type=text] {
        display: inline-block;
        border:none;
        border-bottom:2px solid #000;
        etc..
    }
    input[type=number] {
        display: none;
    }
}
@media screen {
    input[type=number] {
        display: inline-block;
    }
    input[type=text] {
        display: none;
    }
}

This method can also be applied to other form elements, depending on how your implementation is structured.

Answer 3

Answer №2

To achieve this specific effect, it can be done in webkit browsers. Unfortunately, I have not discovered a method to replicate it in other browsers, but it should work seamlessly in webkit.

@media print {
    input::-webkit-outer-spin-button,  
        input::-webkit-inner-spin-button {
        -webkit-appearance: none;
    }
}

Interestingly, Webkit treats these buttons as pseudo elements and offers an option to conceal them. This functionality is exactly what one would desire, despite the limitation of only being available in webkit browsers.

Answer 4

To achieve this specific effect, it can be done in webkit browsers. Unfortunately, I have not discovered a method to replicate it in other browsers, but it should work seamlessly in webkit.

@media print {
    input::-webkit-outer-spin-button,  
        input::-webkit-inner-spin-button {
        -webkit-appearance: none;
    }
}

Interestingly, Webkit treats these buttons as pseudo elements and offers an option to conceal them. This functionality is exactly what one would desire, despite the limitation of only being available in webkit browsers.

Answer 5

Answer №3

A more efficient approach, avoiding the use of vendor prefixes, is to implement the output element.

Guiding Principles

Conceal the output element on @media screen ;
Update the value of the output element based on field input ;
Toggle the visibility of both the input and the output elements on @media print.

→ Access the codepen demo here.

HTML

<form onsubmit="return false" oninput="print.value = parseInt(screen.value)">
  <input class='screen' name="screen" type="number" value='0'> →
  <output class='print' name="print">5 (default print value)</output>
</form>
<p>The <code>output</code> element serves as a replacement for the <code>input</code> in print media</p>

CSS

.print {
  display: none;
}

@media print {
  .screen {
    display: none;
  }
  .print {
    display: inline-block;
  }
}

Answer 6

A more efficient approach, avoiding the use of vendor prefixes, is to implement the output element.

Guiding Principles

Conceal the output element on @media screen ;
Update the value of the output element based on field input ;
Toggle the visibility of both the input and the output elements on @media print.

→ Access the codepen demo here.

HTML

<form onsubmit="return false" oninput="print.value = parseInt(screen.value)">
  <input class='screen' name="screen" type="number" value='0'> →
  <output class='print' name="print">5 (default print value)</output>
</form>
<p>The <code>output</code> element serves as a replacement for the <code>input</code> in print media</p>

CSS

.print {
  display: none;
}

@media print {
  .screen {
    display: none;
  }
  .print {
    display: inline-block;
  }
}

Answer 7

Answer №4

Experiment with hiding content on the screen and revealing it when printing

@media print {
    .hideOnPrint {
        display: none;
    }
    .hideOnScreen {
        display: block;
    }
}
@media screen {
    .hideOnPrint {
        display: block;
    }
    .hideOnScreen {
        display: none;
    }
}

Apply the hideOnScreen class to text elements and use the hideOnPrint class for input elements

Answer 8

Experiment with hiding content on the screen and revealing it when printing

@media print {
    .hideOnPrint {
        display: none;
    }
    .hideOnScreen {
        display: block;
    }
}
@media screen {
    .hideOnPrint {
        display: block;
    }
    .hideOnScreen {
        display: none;
    }
}

Apply the hideOnScreen class to text elements and use the hideOnPrint class for input elements

Answer 9

Answer №5

Have you thought about implementing a straightforward JavaScript code to extract data from specific fields, converting it to a printable format when printing, and then reverting it back to its original state?

I'm not entirely sure if achieving this solely with CSS is possible.

Perhaps utilizing an XML parsing mechanism could be a viable solution for your needs. It can make tasks like these much more manageable.

Here's a useful resource on XSLT that might provide further insight

Answer 10

Have you thought about implementing a straightforward JavaScript code to extract data from specific fields, converting it to a printable format when printing, and then reverting it back to its original state?

I'm not entirely sure if achieving this solely with CSS is possible.

Perhaps utilizing an XML parsing mechanism could be a viable solution for your needs. It can make tasks like these much more manageable.

Here's a useful resource on XSLT that might provide further insight

Answer 11

Answer №6

Another option could be offering a hyperlink for printing, along with a duplicate version of the webpage stripped of unnecessary elements.

e.g.        www.example.com/page.htm
print version  www.example.com/page-print.htm

This method is widely used (additionally, you can utilize CSS that only applies to the print version)

I trust this information will be beneficial

Answer 12

Another option could be offering a hyperlink for printing, along with a duplicate version of the webpage stripped of unnecessary elements.

e.g.        www.example.com/page.htm
print version  www.example.com/page-print.htm

This method is widely used (additionally, you can utilize CSS that only applies to the print version)

I trust this information will be beneficial

Conceal form elements while printing an HTML document using CSS styling

Answer №1

Answer №2

Answer №3

Guiding Principles

HTML

CSS

Answer №4

Answer №5

Answer №6

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