- Success Criterion 3.2.2
- Conformance level A
Search Box That Auto-Navigates Once Enough Characters Are Typed
3.2.2 — On Input
Scenario
Setting
A community forum's discussion thread
What’s wrong
Typing in a search box auto-navigating to results page at N characters.
Example
<select onchange="location.href=this.value">Why it matters
Keyboard and screen-reader users, and people who need predictable form behavior.
How to test
Type in a search box and stop typing (don't press Enter): if it auto-navigates to a results page after a certain number of characters, it fails.
How to fix
Changing a field's value must not navigate, submit, close, or change context unless the user was told beforehand or explicitly confirms.
<select onchange="updatePreview()"></select><button onclick="navigate()">Go</button>Changing a value should update state, not silently navigate — let the user confirm with an explicit action.
Outcome
On a community forum's discussion thread, this barrier is gone for keyboard and screen-reader users — they can complete the task without hitting this wall.
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)
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