INSIGHTS | November 27, 2020

WCAG 2.1.2: No Keyboard Trap (We Need an Exit Strategy)


Give your readers a way out! Unless you’re designing a nefarious maze to trap unsuspecting super-spies on your Island of Doom, you don’t want to leave people without a way out. If someone is relying on a keyboard or keyboard emulator navigate your website (as described in WCAG 2.1.1), make sure you avoid creating “keyboard traps”

It’s a Trap!

“It’s a trap!” GIF.

Its A Trap Movie GIF by Star Wars - Find & Share on GIPHY

A keyboard trap is a situation in which someone utilizing a keyboard has navigated to a component or section of a website and then is unable to return to where they were or move focus elsewhere using unmodified arrow or tab keys.This issue is most commonly seen when a number of formats are cobbled together within a site and rendered by the use of plug-ins or embedded applications.

When putting together your webpage, take a second to tab through your site’s content to make sure that no traps exist. If, however, you determine that a keyboard trap cannot be avoided on your site, then you should include instructions to users on that page about how to shift focus away from the “trap” section.

Contact Us

Monday Loves You
1770 West Berteau Avenue, #206
Chicago, IL 60613
312.973.1112
hi@mondaylovesyou.com

Terms of Use

©Duple Meter LLC 2024

Stay Connected.

Contact Us.

Monday Loves You
1770 West Berteau Avenue, #206
Chicago, IL 60613
312.973.1112
hi@mondaylovesyou.com

Terms of Use

Stay Connected.