- Success Criterion 3.2.1
- Conformance level A
Tabbing Into a Field That Opens a Modal Automatically
3.2.1 — On Focus
Scenario
Setting
A subscription box service's account settings
What’s wrong
Focusing a field opens a modal/new window automatically.
Example
On a subscription box service's account settings, a visitor hits this wall: focusing a field opens a modal/new window automatically.
Why it matters
Keyboard and screen-reader users, and people who are easily disoriented by surprise UI changes. In this case (a subscription box service's account settings), they have to relearn the layout on every page.
How to test
Tab to a field and stop (don't type or press Enter): if a modal or new window opens automatically just from receiving focus, it fails.
How to fix
Receiving keyboard focus must cause no change — no activation, selection, navigation, popup, or focus jump.
Outcome
Once corrected, a subscription box service's account settings lets them predict where to look without relearning the layout.
Who is affected
Keyboard and screen-reader users, and people who are easily disoriented by surprise UI changes.
Learn more
- Understanding Understanding document (opens in a new tab)
Related scenarios
- Element That Loses Focus the Instant It’s Reached
- Tabbing to a Menu Item That Auto-Navigates to Its Page
- Selecting an Option That Submits the Form Automatically
- Keyboard Focus Triggering an Unexpected Scroll Jump
- Tabbing Into a Field That Opens a Chat Widget
- Autofocus Chain That Jumps Focus From One Field to Another