Disable pasting text into HTML form
Is there a way using JavaScript to disable the ability to paste text into a text field on an HTML form?
E.g. I have a simple registration form where the user is required to input their email twice. The second email entry is to verify there are no typos in the first email entry. However if the user copy/pastes their email then that defeats the purpose and I've been experiencing users having problems because they've input the wrong email and copy/pasted it.
Maybe I wasn't clear on my question but I am not trying to prevent people from copying (or drag selecting) text on their browser. I just want to stop them from pasting input into a text field to minimize user error.
Perhaps instead of using this "hack" you can suggest another solution to the core problem of what I'm trying to solve here? I've done less than half a dozen user tests and this has already happened twice. My audience does not have a high level of computer proficiency.
Answer
Don't do it. Don't mess with the user's browser. By Copy + Pasting into an E-Mail confirmation field, the user accepts responsibility over what they type. If they are dumb enough to copy + paste a faulty address (it has happened to me) then it's their own damn fault.
If you want to make sure that the E-Mail confirmation works out, have the user check their E-Mail while your site waits ("Please open your webmail program in a new window"). Show the E-Mail address in big fat letters ("The confirmation E-Mail was sent to.... made an error? CLick here to change).
Even better, if you can, let the user have some kind of limited access without confirming. That way, they can log in straight away and you improve your chances to keep in touch with the visitor even if the confirmation mail is blocked due to other reasons (e.g. spam filters).