Make all functionality available from a keyboard.
WCAG 2.2, Guideline 2.1
What is it?
To meet this criteria, websites and other digital content must be usable by keyboard only. Users can navigate through all parts of the website, like links, forms, and videos, without needing a mouse. They should also be able to easily leave these elements and go back to the main content, in other words, they are not “trapped” by the content.
Why does this matter?
Not everyone can or wants to use a mouse. Including:
- Users with motor disabilities: conditions like tremors, limited hand mobility, or paralysis make it difficult or impossible to use a mouse
- Users with vision impairments: screen reader users often rely on keyboard navigation to access and interact with web content.
- Power users: these users rely on keyboard shortcuts to improve efficiency while working on computers.
How do I check that my content is keyboard accessible?
To test your content’s keyboard accessibility, try navigating through it using only your keyboard. Don’t use a mouse at all. This will help you identify any areas where users might get stuck or have difficulty accessing content.
Use the following keys to navigate your content:
- Tab: Press the Tab key to move between clickable elements on the page, such as links, buttons, and form fields.
- Shift + Tab: Press Shift + Tab to move backward through the elements.
- Enter or Spacebar: Press Enter or Spacebar to activate a focused element, like clicking a link or submitting a form.
- Arrow Keys: Use the arrow keys to navigate within menus, lists, and other interactive elements.
- Esc: Press Esc to close menus, popups, or dialog boxes.
Bottom line…
If you can’t navigate to all parts of a webpage or leave a specific section using only your keyboard, then that webpage is not fully accessible.