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Re: Where should focus be on page load?

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From: Benjamin.Hofer@telekom.de
Date: Dec 7, 2021 12:54AM

I think it sepends a lot if we talk about single-page applications with little or no page reloads or web applications (backend frameworks) with "real" page reloads.
For a single page app, I have to rely on focus placement as a screenreader user. That's very crucial because otherwise no changes/action is visible for a screenreader user. In fact, those apps tend to be very accessible and convenient to use if things like focus placement were tought. If accessibility is not built in, these are the most frustrating ones...
When it comes to "traditional" web pages with "real" page reloads, focus is not so important. In my view, it's convenient to place it somewhere important on a page (e.g. where the content starts / first heading etc.9, but that depends a lot on the page content itself..

-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
Von: WebAIM-Forum < <EMAIL REMOVED> > Im Auftrag von Andrews, David B (DEED)
Gesendet: Montag, 6. Dezember 2021 17:21
An: WebAIM Discussion List < <EMAIL REMOVED> >
Betreff: Re: [WebAIM] Where should focus be on page load?

It is not confusing to experienced users, but may be to a newbie. Also, depending on the complexity of the page, and degree of interaction -- if focus is moved a lot, it can be very frustrating!

Dave



-----Original Message-----
From: WebAIM-Forum < <EMAIL REMOVED> > On Behalf Of Tim Harshbarger
Sent: Monday, December 6, 2021 6:00 AM
To: 'WebAIM Discussion List' < <EMAIL REMOVED> >
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] Where should focus be on page load?

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I think this issue is probably less confusing for screen reader users than most people think. If the focus starts on some kind of form control, I suspect screen reader users will assume they are not at the top of the page but somewhere further in it. If it starts on a link, it probably depends on whether or not the link sounds like it should be something at the top of the page. For example, if the focus were placed on a skip link or a homepage link a screen reader user might think they are at the top of the page. Once a screen reader knows or suspects they are not at the top of the page and if they want to go there, it is fairly trivial to accomplish that.

I suspect the location of the focus is more important to keyboard users. If it goes to somewhere on the page they want to be or close to it, you saved them a lot of tabbing. If it is not close to where they want to go, what will it take to get them where they want to go?

Thanks,
Tim
Tim Harshbarger

-----Original Message-----
From: WebAIM-Forum < <EMAIL REMOVED> > On Behalf Of Mark Magennis
Sent: Monday, December 6, 2021 4:30 AM
To: <EMAIL REMOVED>
Subject: [WebAIM] Where should focus be on page load?

I'd be interested in hearing the opinions of screen reader users or those who are very familiar with screen reader users' experiences about where focus should be when a page loads. I see this as a usability issue rather than a compliance one.

The way I've always looked at this is that when a new 'page' is opened - either a new URL or, in a single page application, a new distinct functional chunk (vague I know), focus should normally go to the top of the page. This helps with predictability and consistency. Only in exceptional circumstances should focus be moved to somewhere else such as the start of the unique page content.

In my thinking, exceptional circumstances are when the user is engaged in a predictable workflow, where the current step leaves focus somewhere distant from the content the user will predictably need to read or interact with next. An example is a site search that opens a search results page. It is predictable that after submitting the search the user will want to immediately read the results. It's hard to imagine a scenario when this will not be the case. So when the search results page open, it is helpful to place focus at the start of the results, usually on a results statement such as "Showing 20 of 1,483 results for xxxxx". Other predictable workflows occur within multi-step processes such as purchasing or ticket booking where at each step the user will always want to go to the start of the step instructions or inputs. So it is helpful to place them there when the step is loaded.

Am I looking at this the right way, or is it helpful to place focus at the start of the unique content more often, even on most pages perhaps?

Aside from page loads, content changes with predictable workflows seem to occur whenever hidden content is revealed or new content is added to a page.
For example, if a 'Show Table of Contents' button is used to open a content navigation panel should focus be moved to the panel because it is predictable that the user will want to use it (why would they have opened it otherwise)? Or when an 'Add New Record' button in a table toolbar causes a new row to be added to the table containing fields that need to be filled in. It seems predictable that the user will want to immediately fill them in, so should focus always be moved to the first field in the newly added row?

Would be very interested to hear users' preferences. Thanks, Mark

Mark Magennis (he/him)
Senior Accessibility Specialist
Skillsoft | mobile: +353 87 60 60 162
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