Focus Order Tester
Focus Order Tester is a free online accessibility tool that checks the keyboard navigation order of interactive elements on a webpage and helps identify potential focus order issues.
What Is Focus Order Testing?
Focus order testing checks the sequence in which interactive elements receive keyboard focus when users navigate a webpage using the Tab and Shift + Tab keys. It helps ensure that buttons, links, form fields, and other interactive elements follow a logical navigation sequence.
How to Use the Focus Order Tester Online
Follow these steps to test keyboard focus order with the free online tool.
Start testing: Open the Focus Order Tester and start the focus inspection process.
Navigate with the keyboard: Press Tab to move forward through focusable elements and Shift + Tab to move backward.
Inspect focusable elements: Review the displayed elements, including buttons, links, and other keyboard-accessible controls.
Show focus numbers: Enable focus numbers to understand the sequence in which elements receive focus.
Check tabindex values: Enable the option to show elements with tabindex="-1" when investigating focus behavior.
Review the results: Examine the focus order preview and issue indicators to identify elements that may need further accessibility testing.
Export the results: Use the available copy or download options to save the focus order report for review.
For Example:
Input:
Testing State: Active (Start Testing)
Options: Show focus Number and Show tabindex="-1" Elements
Keyboard Navigation Controls:
Move forward: Tab
Move backward: Shift + Tab
Output:
FOCUS ORDER METRICS
* Total Focusable Elements: 1,293
* Positive Tabindex: 0
* Negative Tabindex: 0
* Accessibility Issues Detected: 0
TAB ORDER SEQUENCE PREVIEW
[1] <button> menu
[2] <button> menu
[3] <a> apps Tools 0
[4] <a> Password generator
[5] <a> Lorem text generator
[6] <a> UUID Generator
[7] <a> Random Number Generator
[8] <a> Bcrypt Generator
[9] <a> MD5 Generator
Understanding Focus Order Tester Results
The tool provides information that helps evaluate keyboard navigation.
Focusable Elements
Focusable elements are webpage components that can receive keyboard focus. Common examples include links, buttons, form fields, and elements made focusable through HTML or JavaScript.
Tab Order
Tab order represents the sequence in which elements receive focus when users press Tab. A logical order helps users understand the page structure and complete tasks without confusion.
Positive Tabindex
A positive tabindex, such as tabindex="1", can move an element ahead of elements using the default tab order. Multiple positive values can make navigation difficult to maintain. In most cases, the default focus order should be preferred.
Negative Tabindex
An element with tabindex="-1" is generally excluded from sequential keyboard navigation but can still receive programmatic focus. This attribute is useful in certain accessibility patterns, such as managing focus inside dialogs.
Accessibility Issues
A focus order tester can help reveal potential navigation problems, but a zero-issue count does not guarantee complete accessibility. Manual keyboard testing and additional accessibility checks are still necessary.
Why Is Focus Order Important for Web Accessibility?
A logical focus order helps users navigate webpages predictably, complete forms, operate interactive controls, and understand where keyboard focus is located.
Poor focus order can cause users to skip important controls, lose their place in a workflow, or navigate through a page in an unexpected sequence.
The WCAG 2.2 success criterion 2.4.3 Focus Order states that, when navigation sequences affect meaning or operation, focusable components should receive focus in an order that preserves meaning and operability.
Testing focus order is therefore a useful part of accessibility reviews, website quality assurance, and keyboard navigation testing.