Level ASince WCAG 2.0
3.2.1 On Focus
Guideline 3.2: Predictable – Pages behave the way people expect.
What does the rule require?
Just because an element receives focus, nothing unexpected happens: no page change, no new window, no submit.
How to get it right
Trigger actions on click or Enter – never on the focus event.
Who benefits most?
- Blind people
- People with cognitive disabilities
- People with motor disabilities
Official wording
This page explains the rule in simple words. Only the original W3C text is normative.
- “Understanding On Focus” at W3C (external site)
- Techniques in the WCAG Quick Reference (external site)