All WCAG criteria
WCAG 3.2.1 · UnderstandableLevel A
3.2.1On Focus
Focusing on a component must not trigger a context change (new window, form submission, focus shift, major content change).
Common failures
Patterns that fail this criterion.
- 01Form input that auto-submits on focus
- 02Tab that automatically opens content in a popup
- 03Focus that scrolls the viewport unexpectedly
How to test
Testing approach: manual.
Manual — Tab to every focusable element; confirm nothing unexpected happens just from focus.
How to fix
Remediation steps.
- 1
Reserve actions for explicit user input
Click, key press, form submit — yes. Mere focus — no.
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