Resource guide
2.4.3 Focus Order
When navigating by keyboard, focus must move in an order that makes sense and preserves meaning.
By Calling All Minds·Last updated April 2026
Success criterion
Conformance level
Essential baseline — must meet for any compliance.
What it means
When a user presses Tab to move between interactive elements, the focus order must be logical. If focus jumps unexpectedly from one area of the page to another, or moves in a sequence that does not reflect the visual layout, it is disorienting.
The focus order must preserve meaning and operability. Users must be able to understand where they are and interact with the page in a way that makes sense.
In practice
Write your HTML in the logical reading order and use CSS for visual layout. The DOM order determines the Tab order by default.
Avoid using tabindex values greater than 0. They override the natural Tab order and create confusion.
Test modal dialogs carefully. When a modal opens, focus must move into the modal. When it closes, focus must return to the element that triggered it.
Common failures
- Tab order that jumps from the top of the page to the footer, skipping the main content
- Modal dialog that opens but focus remains on the triggering element behind it
- Form where Tab moves focus in a non-sequential order due to use of
tabindexvalues
AXS Audit
AXS Audit checks your site against 2.4.3 and flags issues your team can act on straight away. It covers criteria that automated scanners often miss.