Understanding SC 2.1.3: Keyboard (No Exception) (Level AAA)
In Brief
- Goal
- Everything can be done with a keyboard.
- What to do
- Ensure all pointer actions have a keyboard equivalent.
- Why it's important
- People who can only use the keyboard interface need to be able to accomplish everything.
Success Criterion (SC)
All functionality of the content is operable through a keyboard interface without requiring specific timings for individual keystrokes.
Intent
The intent of this Success Criterion is to ensure that all content is operable from the keyboard. This is the same as Success Criterion 2.1.1, except that no exceptions are allowed. This does not mean that content where the underlying function requires input that depends on the path of the user's movement and not just the endpoints (excluded from the requirements of 2.1.1) must be made keyboard accessible. Rather, it means that content that uses path-dependent input cannot conform to this Success Criterion and therefore cannot meet Guideline 2.1 at Level AAA.
Note
Platforms and user agents usually have conventions for how web content or applications are controlled with a keyboard interface. If content does not follow the platform/user agent conventions it may be difficult to use, as users will need to learn different interaction methods. As a best practice, content should follow the platform/user agent conventions. However, deviating from these conventions does not fail the normative requirement of this Success Criterion.
For instance, buttons that have focus can generally be activated using both the Enter key and the Space bar. If a custom button control in a web application instead only reacts to Enter (or even a completely custom key or key combination), this still satisfies the requirements of this Success Criterion.
Note
This Success Criterion does not require that every visible control that can be activated using a pointer (such as a mouse or touch screen input) must also be focusable and actionable using the keyboard. The normative requirement is only that there must be a way for keyboard interface users to perform the same, or comparable, actions and to operate the content. Generally, the easiest way to achieve this is to provide controls that can be operated with all possible input devices; however, if a web application implements a separate mode of operation for keyboard interface users, it will not fail the Success Criterion.
Techniques
Each numbered item in this section represents a technique or combination of techniques that the WCAG Working Group deems sufficient for meeting this Success Criterion. A technique may go beyond the minimum requirement of the criterion. There may be other ways of meeting the criterion not covered by these techniques. For information on using other techniques, see Understanding Techniques for WCAG Success Criteria, particularly the "Other Techniques" section.
Sufficient Techniques
No additional techniques exist for this Success Criterion. Follow techniques for Success Criterion 2.1.1. If that is not possible because there is a requirement for path-dependent input, then it is not possible to meet this Level AAA Success Criterion.
Key Terms
- functionality
processes and outcomes achievable through user action
- keyboard interface
interface used by software to obtain keystroke input
Note
A keyboard interface allows users to provide keystroke input to programs even if the native technology does not contain a keyboard.
Note
Operation of the application (or parts of the application) through a keyboard-operated mouse emulator, such as MouseKeys, does not qualify as operation through a keyboard interface because operation of the program is through its pointing device interface, not through its keyboard interface.
- process
series of user actions where each action is required in order to complete an activity
Test Rules
The following are Test Rules for certain aspects of this Success Criterion. It is not necessary to use these particular Test Rules to check for conformance with WCAG, but they are defined and approved test methods. For information on using Test Rules, see Understanding Test Rules for WCAG Success Criteria.