I have read a bit on this, but I can't seem to find anything solid about how different browsers treat things.
This question is related to
html
cross-browser
If the value of a disabled textbox needs to be retained when a form is cleared (reset), disabled = "disabled"
has to be used, as read-only textbox will not retain the value
For Example:
HTML
Textbox
<input type="text" id="disabledText" name="randombox" value="demo" disabled="disabled" />
Reset button
<button type="reset" id="clearButton">Clear</button>
In the above example, when Clear button is pressed, disabled text value will be retained in the form. Value will not be retained in the case of input type = "text" readonly="readonly"
Disabled means that no data from that form element will be submitted when the form is submitted. Read-only means any data from within the element will be submitted, but it cannot be changed by the user.
For example:
<input type="text" name="yourname" value="Bob" readonly="readonly" />
This will submit the value "Bob" for the element "yourname".
<input type="text" name="yourname" value="Bob" disabled="disabled" />
This will submit nothing for the element "yourname".
No events get triggered when the element is having disabled attribute.
None of the below will get triggered.
$("[disabled]").click( function(){ console.log("clicked") });//No Impact
$("[disabled]").hover( function(){ console.log("hovered") });//No Impact
$("[disabled]").dblclick( function(){ console.log("double clicked") });//No Impact
While readonly will be triggered.
$("[readonly]").click( function(){ console.log("clicked") });//log - clicked
$("[readonly]").hover( function(){ console.log("hovered") });//log - hovered
$("[readonly]").dblclick( function(){ console.log("double clicked") });//log - double clicked
Same as the other answers (disabled isn't sent to the server, readonly is) but some browsers prevent highlighting of a disabled form, while read-only can still be highlighted (and copied).
http://www.w3schools.com/tags/att_input_disabled.asp
http://www.w3schools.com/tags/att_input_readonly.asp
A read-only field cannot be modified. However, a user can tab to it, highlight it, and copy the text from it.
Source: Stackoverflow.com