What WCAG 2.4.3 Requires
When visitors tab through a page, focus must move in a meaningful order that matches the visual and logical reading order, not jump around unpredictably.
Can AccessBell Test This Automatically?
Not fully. Like most WCAG criteria that depend on meaning or context, this one needs a person to judge. AccessBell's report lists it for manual review rather than marking it pass or fail automatically, so it never gets missed.
How to Test It by Hand
Tab through the entire page and confirm focus moves in the same order a sighted reader would read the content.
Common Failures
- CSS positioning visually reorders elements so tab order jumps around the page.
- A positive tabindex value forces some elements ahead of others in an unpredictable order.
Related Criteria in Navigable
WCAG 2.4.3 Questions
What does WCAG 2.4.3 require?
When visitors tab through a page, focus must move in a meaningful order that matches the visual and logical reading order, not jump around unpredictably.
Can AccessBell test WCAG 2.4.3 automatically?
Not fully. This criterion needs a person to judge, so AccessBell's report lists it for manual review rather than marking it pass or fail on its own.
What level is WCAG 2.4.3?
Level A, added in WCAG 2.0.
Sources
- W3C: Understanding 2.4.3 Focus Order (opens in a new tab)
- W3C: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 (opens in a new tab)
This page explains a technical standard and is not legal advice. See our disclaimer.