Keyboard interactions

All elements within a secondary navigation are focus stops. Pressing Enter when a menu has focus will expand or collapse it. Otherwise, users will be directed to a new page. If the height of the menu is taller than the viewport height due to lots of content, focus is trapped within the panel until the menu is collapsed.

Image of secondary navigations with diagrams of what happens when Tab or Enter keys are pressed

Keyboard events

Action Event
Tab Moves focus to the next interactive element (including a menu)
Shift + Tab Moves focus to the previous interactive element (including a menu)
Enter (when a link has focus) Directs user to another page
Enter (when a menu has focus) Expands or collapses a menu without moving focus
Enter (when a menu has focus) Collapses an expanded menu without moving focus
Esc (when a menu is expanded) Collapses the expanded menu

Focus order

A logical focus order helps keyboard users operate our websites. Elements need to receive focus in an order that preserves meaning, therefore the focus order should make sense and not jump around randomly. Interactive elements within expanded sections are automatically added to the focus order.

ARIA Authoring Practices Guide (APG)

Learn to use the accessibility semantics defined by the Accessible Rich Internet Application (ARIA) specification to create accessible web experiences.

View APG resources

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines

Understanding documents provide detailed explanations for Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) guidelines and success criteria.

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