WebAIM - Web Accessibility In Mind

E-mail List Archives

Thread: set cursor in search box

for

Number of posts in this thread: 6 (In chronological order)

From: Kirsty.Baker
Date: Tue, Jun 25 2019 2:18AM
Subject: set cursor in search box
No previous message | Next message →

--_005_VI1PR0402MB3824254133249F646AC9BF55ADE30VI1PR0402MB3824_
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Hello

If on loading a page with a search box you were to automatically set the cu=
rsor within the search box, would this have a negative impact on accessibil=
ity? One argument could be that this is helpful to users especially if the =
main purpose of the site is as a search tool. But on the other side it coul=
d be that this is not what users would be expecting, and it could possibly =
have a negative impact on keyboard only users and screen reader users? I'd =
be interested to hear views on this.

Many thanks

Kirsty Baker


[E29EFC26]
[BCDE383A]
Kirsty Baker | Digital Services Development and Accessibility Officer
Library Services
The Open University, Level 1, Betty Boothroyd Library, Walton Hall, Milton =
Keynes, MK7 6AA
+44 (0) 1908 858478 | = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = <mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = .u=
k> | www.open.ac.uk<;http://www.open.ac.uk/>;
[DB15C58]



-- The Open University is incorporated by Royal Charter (RC 000391), an exe=
mpt charity in England & Wales and a charity registered in Scotland (SC 038=
302). The Open University is authorised and regulated by the Financial Cond=
uct Authority in relation to its secondary activity of credit broking.

--_005_VI1PR0402MB3824254133249F646AC9BF55ADE30VI1PR0402MB3824_
Content-Type: image/jpeg; name="image001.jpg"
Content-Description: image001.jpg
Content-Disposition: inline; filename="image001.jpg"; size=5933;
creation-date="Tue, 25 Jun 2019 08:18:36 GMT";
modification-date="Tue, 25 Jun 2019 08:18:36 GMT"
Content-ID: <image001.jpg@01D52B36.F742B4B0>
Content-Transfer-Encoding: base64
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--_005_VI1PR0402MB3824254133249F646AC9BF55ADE30VI1PR0402MB3824_
Content-Type: image/png; name="image002.png"
Content-Description: image002.png
Content-Disposition: inline; filename="image002.png"; size=171;
creation-date="Tue, 25 Jun 2019 08:18:36 GMT";
modification-date="Tue, 25 Jun 2019 08:18:36 GMT"
Content-ID: <image002.png@01D52B36.F742B4B0>
Content-Transfer-Encoding: base64

iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAALcAAAAICAIAAAA0kPloAAAAAXNSR0IArs4c6QAAAARnQU1BAACx
jwv8YQUAAAAJcEhZcwAADsMAAA7DAcdvqGQAAABASURBVFhH7daxEQAgCENRcBAXckRXFbGhxSzw
X0MGyOXwzDTga9QFerQEGi2B5nPtikCD7xWan7gVgQZbAsXsAfLrDP5uOaygAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC

--_005_VI1PR0402MB3824254133249F646AC9BF55ADE30VI1PR0402MB3824_--

From: Patrick H. Lauke
Date: Tue, Jun 25 2019 2:33AM
Subject: Re: set cursor in search box
← Previous message | Next message →

On 25/06/2019 09:18, Kirsty.Baker wrote:
> Hello
>
> If on loading a page with a search box you were to automatically set the cursor within the search box, would this have a negative impact on accessibility? One argument could be that this is helpful to users especially if the main purpose of the site is as a search tool. But on the other side it could be that this is not what users would be expecting, and it could possibly have a negative impact on keyboard only users and screen reader users? I'd be interested to hear views on this.

Messing with focus is usually regarded as a no-no. I'd say it depends
heavily on how much content there is on the page prior to the search
box, as yanking the focus directly there will result in users
potentially missing all of it / not even being aware there was content
there.

P
--
Patrick H. Lauke

www.splintered.co.uk | https://github.com/patrickhlauke
http://flickr.com/photos/redux/ | http://redux.deviantart.com
twitter: @patrick_h_lauke | skype: patrick_h_lauke

From: Mallory
Date: Tue, Jun 25 2019 6:01AM
Subject: Re: set cursor in search box
← Previous message | Next message →

Hi,

I only allow that kind of autofocus if the page basically does one dedicated thing. A search page where 99% of users want to search, a login page where 99% of users are going to log in, etc.

A page that allows users to do many things and search is just one of them, I don't allow: with speech recognition your commands are now first initially trapped in a dictation-oriented box; with screen magnification I usually have little idea of where I am, how far down the page I am, and now I have to explore backwards/up the page to catch lost content. Using autofocus to help with a Call To Action, I also recommend against.

On a page dedicated to logging in, however, for a service that does not also have forms for creating an account or whatnot, autofocussing can be an accessibility advantage to folks with poor motor control (depending on how they're navigating pages). On a login page with speech recognition, it can be less work for me to log in as I could start out dictating my username/email without needing to set focus on the input first. At a previous job, single-use pages which autofocussed on the first input was appreciated in testing with a head-mouse user who easily tired and tried to avoid unnecessary clicking (though I will not argue clicking an input on a page is unnecessary, but to her in this testing context it was).

Ideally it's a page that's very clear to you and most others whether it's really a one-use page, and ideally you can user-test this on people with various disabilities and methods of interaction. If you find it gets in the way of some folks then it's a good sign to reconsider autofocus there.

cheers,
_mallory

On Tue, Jun 25, 2019, at 10:18 AM, Kirsty.Baker wrote:
> Hello
>
> If on loading a page with a search box you were to automatically set the cursor within the search box, would this have a negative impact on accessibility? One argument could be that this is helpful to users especially if the main purpose of the site is as a search tool. But on the other side it could be that this is not what users would be expecting, and it could possibly have a negative impact on keyboard only users and screen reader users? I'd be interested to hear views on this.
>
> Many thanks
>
> Kirsty Baker

From: jeffgutsell@fuse.net
Date: Tue, Jun 25 2019 10:40AM
Subject: Re: set cursor in search box
← Previous message | Next message →

I think most screen reader users can find a search field easily enough when
the page makes proper use of form labeling, headings and other landmarks.
I like a well-known site for financial information that does not use
auto-focus on its search control. I can get to that field with one
keystroke when I want to look up info on a mutual fund.


-----Original Message-----
From: WebAIM-Forum < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > On Behalf Of
Mallory
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2019 8:01 AM
To: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] set cursor in search box

Hi,

I only allow that kind of autofocus if the page basically does one dedicated
thing. A search page where 99% of users want to search, a login page where
99% of users are going to log in, etc.

A page that allows users to do many things and search is just one of them, I
don't allow: with speech recognition your commands are now first initially
trapped in a dictation-oriented box; with screen magnification I usually
have little idea of where I am, how far down the page I am, and now I have
to explore backwards/up the page to catch lost content. Using autofocus to
help with a Call To Action, I also recommend against.

On a page dedicated to logging in, however, for a service that does not also
have forms for creating an account or whatnot, autofocussing can be an
accessibility advantage to folks with poor motor control (depending on how
they're navigating pages). On a login page with speech recognition, it can
be less work for me to log in as I could start out dictating my
username/email without needing to set focus on the input first. At a
previous job, single-use pages which autofocused on the first input was
appreciated in testing with a head-mouse user who easily tired and tried to
avoid unnecessary clicking (though I will not argue clicking an input on a
page is unnecessary, but to her in this testing context it was).

Ideally it's a page that's very clear to you and most others whether it's
really a one-use page, and ideally you can user-test this on people with
various disabilities and methods of interaction. If you find it gets in the
way of some folks then it's a good sign to reconsider autofocus there.

cheers,
_mallory

On Tue, Jun 25, 2019, at 10:18 AM, Kirsty.Baker wrote:
> Hello
>
> If on loading a page with a search box you were to automatically set the
cursor within the search box, would this have a negative impact on
accessibility? One argument could be that this is helpful to users
especially if the main purpose of the site is as a search tool. But on the
other side it could be that this is not what users would be expecting, and
it could possibly have a negative impact on keyboard only users and screen
reader users? I'd be interested to hear views on this.
>
> Many thanks
>
> Kirsty Baker
http://webaim.org/discussion/archives

From: Patrick H. Lauke
Date: Tue, Jun 25 2019 11:07AM
Subject: Re: set cursor in search box
← Previous message | Next message →

On 25/06/2019 17:40, = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = wrote:
> I think most screen reader users can find a search field easily enough when
> the page makes proper use of form labeling, headings and other landmarks.
> I like a well-known site for financial information that does not use
> auto-focus on its search control. I can get to that field with one
> keystroke when I want to look up info on a mutual fund.

However, those special keystrokes come courtesy of the AT. Autofocusing
things such as search fields is generally something done to make it
quicker for all users (including non-AT keyboard users).

P
--
Patrick H. Lauke

www.splintered.co.uk | https://github.com/patrickhlauke
http://flickr.com/photos/redux/ | http://redux.deviantart.com
twitter: @patrick_h_lauke | skype: patrick_h_lauke

From: Mark Magennis
Date: Wed, Jun 26 2019 2:49AM
Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] set cursor in search box
← Previous message | No next message

Hi Kirsty,

Placing focus on a field or at any other point on a page on page load is usually not a good idea, partly because as Patrick says, there's a chance of missing important context, but also because it goes against user expectations. Users expect focus to be at the start of the page when it loads. So you should leave it there.

However, there are rare exceptions where it does make sense to place focus at a specific point on the page. This is where you can guarantee that all users will want to go to that point when the page opens. An example is a search results page. When the search results page opens, it will be because the user has just submitted a search and they will want to read the results. You can guarantee this. So it makes sense to set focus to the main page heading which is usually the overall results statement like "Showing 20 of 13,682 matches for Elvis Presley".

Other exceptions occur within multi-step processes such as ticket booking where at each step the user always wants to go to the start of the step instructions or inputs. So it may be helpful to place them there.

This is just my opinion of course and having discussed this with some users (nothing like a representative or large enough sample to draw firm conclusions), I've found some who disagree and would rather it was always left at the top of the page.

So use with care and if possible test it on some users.

Mark Magennis
Skillsoft | mobile: +353 87 60 60 162
Accessibility Specialist


-----Original Message-----
From: WebAIM-Forum < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > On Behalf Of Kirsty.Baker
Sent: 25 June 2019 09:19
To: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
Subject: [EXTERNAL] [WebAIM] set cursor in search box

Hello

If on loading a page with a search box you were to automatically set the cursor within the search box, would this have a negative impact on accessibility? One argument could be that this is helpful to users especially if the main purpose of the site is as a search tool. But on the other side it could be that this is not what users would be expecting, and it could possibly have a negative impact on keyboard only users and screen reader users? I'd be interested to hear views on this.

Many thanks

Kirsty Baker


[E29EFC26]
[BCDE383A]
Kirsty Baker | Digital Services Development and Accessibility Officer
Library Services
The Open University, Level 1, Betty Boothroyd Library, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA
+44 (0) 1908 858478 | = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = <mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > | www.open.ac.uk<;http://www.open.ac.uk/>;
[DB15C58]



-- The Open University is incorporated by Royal Charter (RC 000391), an exempt charity in England & Wales and a charity registered in Scotland (SC 038302). The Open University is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in relation to its secondary activity of credit broking.