Can you lock stuff in illustrator so it doesnt keeps selecting and highlighting

Question

I was trying to draw behind many shapes but i couldn't tell where i was drawing cause of many lines highlighting. But i need those shapes to draw correctly just not their stroke lines highlighting. Usually a problem when adjusting curved or making anchor point using pen tool.

Answer 1

Yes, in the layers panel, there is a little checkbox next to every object and layer.

Answer 2

Layers Panel icons as KMSTR points out.

But there's also....
Object > Lock > Selection (Command/CTRL+2)
Object > Lock > All Artwork Above
Object > Lock > Other Layers

And there's a hidden shortcut Command/CTRL+Option/Alt+Shift+2 to "lock others". This command will lock anything NOT selected.