- Success Criterion 3.2.2
- Conformance level A
- W3C reference F37
Selecting an Option That Opens a New Window With No Warning
3.2.2 — On Input
Scenario
Setting
A pharmacy app's prescription-refill form
What’s wrong
Choosing a radio button, checkbox, or dropdown option suddenly opens a new window or jumps somewhere else without warning the user first.
Example
A tester reviewing a pharmacy app's prescription-refill form finds this: choosing a radio button, checkbox, or dropdown option suddenly opens a new window or jumps somewhere else without warning the user first.
Why it matters
Keyboard and screen-reader users, and people who need predictable form behavior. On a pharmacy app's prescription-refill form, that means they lose confidence they're in the right place.
How to test
Interact with an input control and watch for a new window/tab opening with no prior warning: if it opens unannounced, it fails.
How to fix
Selecting a radio/checkbox/option must not change context — require an explicit button, or warn the user first.
Outcome
With the fix in place on a pharmacy app's prescription-refill form, they predict where to look without relearning the layout.
Who is affected
Keyboard and screen-reader users, and people who need predictable form behavior.
Learn more
- Understanding Understanding document (opens in a new tab)
- Technique Related technique (opens in a new tab)
Related scenarios
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- Radio Selection That Auto-Advances a Multi-Step Wizard