RE: Reflow

Yes, this has been a problem for a long time, but anecdotally I would say that the use of fixed position elements has been increasing significantly in recent years, perhaps because they are available in every JavaScript framework. It’s certainly not because UX research indicated a need for them. It’s mostly sticky headers and footers, but we are seeing increasing numbers of smaller components such as “Back to top” buttons.

We report a non-conformance of SC 1.4.10 if we think the usability is significantly impaired at 400% zoom, but this is subjective and the success criterion does not provide any guidance. We advise our clients to unstick the sticky header and footer when they exceed a certain percentage of the viewport height. Again, this is totally subjective, but perhaps 25% would be a reasonable limit. By specifying a percentage rather than a number of pixels, we get a solution that will work for any viewport height or zoom level.

I would much prefer to get rid of the sticky headers and footers completely in most cases, but that’s a battle we are almost never going to win even though no user ever said they wanted them.

Steve Green
Managing Director
Test Partners Ltd


From: Wayne Dick <wayneedick@gmail.com>
Sent: 28 August 2020 02:13
To: W3C WAI ig <w3c-wai-ig@w3.org>
Subject: Reflow

The web has definitely gotten better. Lots of sites have gotten the reflow idea well. My biggest problem is fixed position elements. Many sites reflow really well, but after the fixed elements take up their space, there are only one or two lines of main content left. The problem with fixed position elements is they zoom up 400% too. Even those buttons that jump you to the top get very big.

It seems to be prevalent.

Anyone else noticed that.

Here is a really terrible site:
https://www.csulb.edu/


Best, Wayne