Accessibility Tip: Why Keyboard Access Matters
Many people navigate digital content using a keyboard instead of a mouse. This may include individuals with mobility disabilities, people who use assistive technologies, or users who prefer keyboard shortcuts for efficiency.
Ensuring content can be accessed and navigated using a keyboard is an important part of digital accessibility.
Why Keyboard Navigation Is Important
Websites, documents, and applications should allow users to move through interactive elements—such as links, buttons, and form fields—using the keyboard.
For users who cannot operate a mouse, keyboard access may be the primary way they interact with digital content. If an element cannot be reached or activated with a keyboard, it may create a barrier.
Tips for Improving Keyboard Accessibility
Ensure interactive elements can be reached using the Tab key.
Users should be able to move through links, buttons, and form fields using the keyboard.Make sure focus is visible.
When navigating with a keyboard, users should be able to clearly see which element is currently selected.Avoid interactions that require a mouse.
Features that only respond to hovering or clicking may not work for keyboard users.Test navigation without a mouse.
Try navigating a page using only the keyboard to identify potential barriers.
Small Tests Can Reveal Barriers
Simple checks—such as navigating a webpage using only the keyboard—can help identify accessibility issues. When content works well for keyboard users, it helps ensure that digital experiences are accessible to a wider range of people.
Quick Accessibility Check
Before publishing or reviewing content, ask yourself:
- Can links and buttons be reached using the Tab key?
- Is the selected item clearly visible when navigating with a keyboard?
- Can key actions be completed without using a mouse?
Accessibility Tip is a series from the Digital Accessibility group, a subcommittee of the University Technology Committee, sharing practical ways to improve digital accessibility and create more inclusive online experiences at Minnesota State Moorhead.