To let clicks and other pointer input pass through a decorative overlay, set pointer-events: none on the overlay. The element remains visible, but the browser can target the interactive content underneath it instead.
Why a transparent overlay can still block clicks
Being visually transparent does not make an element inert. A layer positioned above a link, button, or scrollable area can still be the pointer-event target, intercepting clicks, dragging, or touch input. That was the problem behind the archived CSS-Tricks discussion: generated shadows looked right but blocked interaction with the content below. The thread is part of the CSS-Tricks forum archive, which is closed and viewable as an archive.
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The fix is to change pointer targeting rather than the overlay’s appearance. A transparent background or opacity: 0 does not express that the layer should be ignored for pointer input.
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Make a decorative layer click-through
Apply the rule to the visual-only overlay:
.decorative-overlay {
pointer-events: none;
}With pointer-events: none, the overlay is generally ineligible as the pointer-event target; the event can go through it to an element underneath. MDN describes this behavior in its CSS pointer-events reference.
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This is appropriate for visual effects such as shadows or decorative layers that do not need to receive pointer input. Avoid putting controls in that layer unless you intentionally configure those descendants to receive pointer events.
If the overlay also contains interactive controls
A descendant can be made eligible for pointer targeting even when its parent has pointer-events: none. For example:
.overlay {
pointer-events: none;
}
.overlay button {
pointer-events: auto;
}Use this pattern only when the overlay needs both decorative and interactive parts. An event targeted at an eligible descendant may still pass through the parent’s capture and bubbling phases, so listeners attached to the parent can still run. Keep that event flow in mind when handling clicks.
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pointer-events: none controls pointer targeting; it does not automatically remove an element from sequential keyboard navigation. MDN notes that an element with this value may still receive focus through Tab navigation. If the overlay contains no interactive content, ensure its markup does not introduce focusable elements; if it contains controls, test both pointer and keyboard use.
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Browser support
MDN marks pointer-events widely available and reports browser availability since July 2015. That general statement does not guarantee identical support for every less-common value, so check detailed compatibility if your implementation depends on one. The MDN reference was last modified August 14, 2026.
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