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Keyboard navigation

Moving through and operating a page with the keyboard alone, mostly with Tab, Enter, Space, and the arrow keys.

Keyboard navigation means every task on a page can be completed without a mouse. The Tab key moves between links and controls, Enter and Space activate them, arrow keys move inside menus and lists, and Escape closes things. People with motor disabilities, people who use switches or voice control, people who use a screen reader, and people who prefer keyboard shortcuts all depend on it.

It is the first thing to test because so much else builds on it. If a menu opens only on hover, a custom dropdown ignores the arrow keys, or focus disappears into a hidden element, a whole group of customers is stopped at that point. WCAG’s operable principle requires keyboard access to all functionality.

Source

Web Accessibility Perspectives Videos: Explore the Impact and Benefits for Everyone

W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI), 2024. Checked .

Focus indicator
The visible outline or highlight that shows which element the keyboard is on.
Keyboard trap
A part of a page that keyboard focus can enter but not leave, so someone using a keyboard is stuck.
Skip link
A link at the top of a page that lets people using a keyboard jump past the navigation to the main content.
Switch access
A way of operating a device with one or more buttons, for people who cannot use a keyboard or touchscreen.

Get help with every step.

We can work with organizations of every size and industry, from a startup serving its first customers to a bank. We find where you stand, help your team fix what matters, and keep checking as your product changes. That work is evidence of your effort, not a legal guarantee.

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