- Success Criterion 3.2.2
- Conformance level A
Input Event That Unexpectedly Spawns a Popup Window
3.2.2 — On Input
Scenario
Setting
A job board's application form
What’s wrong
Input events opening popups/spawning windows.
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
Interact with an input control (change a value): if it spawns a popup or new window unexpectedly, 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 job board's application form, this barrier is gone for keyboard and screen-reader users — they reach the same outcome without extra effort.
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)
Related scenarios
- Form That Submits Itself the Moment the Last Field Is Filled
- Selecting an Option That Opens a New Window With No Warning
- Dropdown That Navigates to a New Page on Selection
- Checking a Box That Reloads the Page and Loses Entries
- Country Selector That Re-Renders the Form and Drops Focus
- Search Box That Auto-Navigates Once Enough Characters Are Typed