Reading Order/Focus Order

Topic

Technique

WCAG AA Requirement

Reading Order

Reading Order: The reading order MUST be logical and intuitive. Note: The default reading order is determined by the order of the elements in the DOM.

Required WCAG 1.3.2

Focus Order

Focus Order: The navigation order of focusable elements MUST be logical and intuitive. Note 1: Focusable elements include links, form inputs and controls, buttons, and any element with a tabindex value of 0 or greater. Note 2: The default reading order is determined by the order of the focusable elements in the DOM. Note 3: Use the tab key to navigate forward through focusable elements, and shift + tab to navigate backward.

Required WCAG 2.4.3

Tabindex

Positive values: A tabindex of positive values (e.g. tabindex="1", tabindex="2", etc.) SHOULD NOT be used, because the result is almost always an illogical reading and/or tab order.

best practice

Zero: Use tabindex="0" to make a custom widget or control focusable, if it is not already focusable. Note: Use natively focusable elements whenever possible (e.g. links, form inputs and controls, buttons), rather than custom controls, for simplicity in markup and implementation.

best practice

Negative 1: Use tabindex="-1" to allow JavaScript to send the focus to an element, without putting it in the focus order.

best practice

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