Introduction to Keyboard Navigation

Summary

People with visual or motor disabilities often cannot use a mouse. Instead, they use other input devices. There are many alternative input devices, but they all rely on the keyboard focus to work. For this reason, you must ensure that people can navigate your digital content with a keyboard as easily as a mouse.

Overview

Using a mouse to navigate digital content can be hard or even impossible for people who are blind or those who have motor disabilities. Some people with low-vision or cognitive and learning disabilities may also have difficulties using a mouse. Instead, these individuals use alternate input devices to interact with computers.

• People who are blind depend on keyboards or braille keyboards.
• People with motor disabilities use specialized keyboards, mouthsticks, switch devices, laser pointers, and similar devices.
• Others may use voice-control software or voice assistants.

The ability to use a site with multiple input devices is known as device-independent navigation. It is essential for everyone to navigate a website successfully.

Although many types of input devices are available, they all rely on keyboard focus. Because of this, you must configure websites so that people can navigate with a keyboard as easily as with a mouse. Most other input devices will also work if your site works with a keyboard. This functionality is why accessibility guidelines emphasize keyboard navigation.

The following factors work together to make keyboard navigation accessible:

• Using the Keyboard: For people to successfully use the keyboard for navigation, all interactive controls must be accessible via the keyboard using either the Tab keys, arrow keys, or other appropriate keystrokes. See Using the Keyboard (Ta11y) for more information.

• Keyboard Traps: It’s also important that keyboard navigators do not get trapped as they move between elements. People must be able to use the keyboard to enter, leave, or close interactive elements like a popup window or dialog box. See Keyboard Traps (Ta11y) for more information.

• Keyboard Shortcuts: Keyboard shortcuts are predefined key combinations that allow users to perform specific software actions more quickly and efficiently than using the mouse or navigating through menus and graphical interface options. Common examples include the copy-and-paste shortcuts “Ctrl+C” and “Ctrl+V.” See Keyboard Shortcuts (Ta11y) for more information.

The visibility of the keyboard focus is another important factor in an accessible keyboard experience. A visible focus indicator is essential for sighted keyboard navigators like people with motor disabilities. See the Introduction to Keyboard Focus (Ta11y) for more information.

Watch this short Keyboard Compatibility video from the Web Accessibility Initiative to see how supporting keyboard navigation helps people with disabilities while providing a better experience for everyone.

Who is Helped

Two main groups rely on keyboard navigation: people who are blind or have motor disabilities. These individuals cannot use a mouse but rely on a keyboard or a device that uses keyboard focus to navigate digital content.

• People who are blind: These individuals require some way of navigating digital content other than a mouse. They rely on keyboards or braille keyboards to interact with computers. If digital content is not keyboard-accessible, these individuals cannot use it.

• People with motor disabilities: These individuals are sighted keyboard users who cannot use a mouse due to reduced manual dexterity. Like people who are blind, these individuals require some way of navigating digital content other than a mouse.

Some people with low-vision or cognitive and learning disabilities may use an alternative input device to navigate digital content instead of a mouse. Other groups who use a keyboard include people with temporary or situational disabilities and those who use a keyboard by preference.

• People with cognitive or learning disabilities: These are sighted individuals who may have difficulty using a mouse and use an alternate input device. For example, some people may have problems processing visual information and use narration and voice-control software to interact with a computer. In addition, some individuals find it easier to maintain focus if they do not switch between a mouse and keyboard for data entry.

• People with low or poor vision: Some individuals may have difficulty using a mouse when they cannot see well or see only parts of a screen. For example, they may have trouble clicking on buttons with a small hit area and use alternate input devices like voice-control software instead of a mouse.

• People with temporary or situational disabilities: These individuals may have temporary injuries that prevent them from using a mouse or be in situations where using a mouse is impractical, such as using a GPS while driving.

• People who simply prefer using a keyboard. Some people find switching between keyboard and mouse too often very distracting, while others find using a mouse slows them down.

Correct keyboard functionality is essential to ensure these individuals can navigate digital information with the same degree of success as someone using a mouse.