Why Can’t Keyboard Users Reach the Main Actions on a Website?

When a website's main action can be clicked but not reached with a keyboard, customers who rely on keyboard navigation may be unable to complete the task. Custom menus, dialogs, carousels, and form controls often lose expected focus behavior when they are built without native semantics.

Reproduce the task with keyboard only

Use Tab and Shift+Tab to move through controls, Enter or Space to activate them, and Escape to close dialogs where appropriate. Track where focus goes, whether the focused control is visible, and whether the page unexpectedly traps or loses focus. Repeat on the same path a customer uses, such as search, sign-in, or checkout.

• Use native buttons and links for their intended actions.
• Give controls accessible names and visible focus indicators.
• Keep focus within a modal while it is open, then return focus to its trigger.
• Ensure menus and form errors are announced and operable.

Fixing the keyboard path can also expose confusing interaction logic for other users. Informatix Systems lists web performance and accessibility related services. A focused audit can identify barriers in important customer journeys. Contact Informatix Systems to discuss website accessibility.