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Re: Including non-interactive elements in the tab order

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From: Dean.Vasile
Date: Feb 26, 2024 10:17AM

Including non-interactive elements like error messages in the tab order generally isn't considered a best practice for accessibility. While it might not explicitly fail SC 2.4.3 (Focus Order), it can still pose usability challenges for users navigating the form, especially those who rely on keyboard navigation or assistive technologies.

It's important to ensure that users can navigate through interactive elements in a logical and predictable order. Placing non-interactive elements like error messages within the tab order can disrupt this flow and confuse users. It's usually better to keep error messages separate from the tab order and provide alternative methods for users to locate and address any issues with form validation.
Dean Vasile


617-799-1162

> On Feb 26, 2024, at 9:43 AM, Geethavani.Shamanna < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:
>
> Hello all,
>
> I am trying to convince some developers that including non-interactive elements (such as error messages) in the tab order is not best practice. The forms in question are validated in real-time and error messages are dynamically inserted into the tab order if a required field is left blank. The error message appears as the next tab stop following the unpopulated required field.
>
> I came across a discussion in the archives about how including non-interactive elements in the tab order does not fail SC 2.4.3, Focus Order. In this instance, where error messages are included within the tab order, does this not fail SC 2.4.3?
>
> Thank you.