Re: Success Criterion 2.4.7. Focus Order

Hi,

By hiding the link using CSS hides it from visual users, but not from
assistive software such as screen readers. Thus the link is still accessible
for blind people. However a sighted user who uses the keyboard (there are
many) will not see the link and be forced to tab through all your navigation
links in order to reach your content. Ideally, therefore, the "Skip to
content" link should be visible so that sighted keyboard users can make use
of it as well as blind users.

If you need to use CSS to hide the link from mouse users the easiest
solution is to use the CSS pseudoclass a:active to make the link text
visible when it is focused by the keyboard user. Note that positioning the
link off the page as you suggest is not the best way to hide such a link.
Some visual browsers do not accept negative dimensions and therefore can
distort your page layout. It is much safer to use CSS to hide an element
(display:none), perhaps create a class to do this

.skip a:link {display: none ; }
.skip a:active { display:block ; }

then you link would be
<a href="#content" class="skip" tabindex="1" >Skip to content</a>

Also note that you do not need to use the tabindex attribute. In fact it is
better if you avoid tabindex altogether (it takes control away from the
user).

Best wishes
Richard


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ramón Corominas" <listas@ramoncorominas.com>
To: "WAI Interest Group" <w3c-wai-ig@w3.org>
Sent: Wednesday, April 29, 2009 3:38 PM
Subject: Success Criterion 2.4.7. Focus Order


> Hi, all.
>
> I'm reading the Understanding SC 2.4.7 about Focus Order, and I'm in
> doubt about what is the meaning of "having a mode of operation that...".
>
> For instance, if I have a hidden "skip to contents" link (via css
> off-left), when a user tabs to this link the focus will not be visible;
> but if the user disables CSS, in this "mode" the link will be visible
> and also the focus. My question is: would this be considered valid?
> Should we show all the links to comply with this criterion? Are
> css-hidden links forbidden?
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Ramón.
>
>
>

Received on Thursday, 30 April 2009 11:14:29 UTC