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When selecting a user interface component with the keyboard, the focus indicator must 
not be completely obscured by anything in front of it.

## Why this matters

When using a keyboard, it is important that the user can see where they are on the page.
If the focus indicator is obscured, the user may not know where they are, and may not
be able to interact with the page.

## Examples

Most common examples include:

* Banners at the top or bottom of the page, such as cookie banners
* Fixed navigation bars
* Fixed footers
* Popup modals, such as cookie consent modals

## How to fix

With elements that cover part of the screen, such as cookie banners, ensure
that the user can scroll to see any content behind the banner, without having to close
the banner.

With popup modals, it should usually be impossible to focus anything behind the modal.
Most common modal frameworks will automatically trap focus within the modal, so that
this is impossible. Example: [Bootstrap Modal](https://getbootstrap.com/docs/5.2/components/modal/#live-demo).

## Further reading

This is part of the draft WCAG 2.2 specification and is subject to change.

* [WCAG 2.4.12](https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG22/Understanding/focus-not-obscured.html)

ensure-focus-is-not-obscured-minimum

June 2025

May 2025

Aberdeen City Council

Title / URL	Issues
Home \| Aberdeen City Councilwww.aberdeencity.gov.uk/	13
Education and Childcare \| Aberdeen City Councilwww.aberdeencity.gov.uk/services/education-and-childcare	13
News \| Aberdeen City Councilwww.aberdeencity.gov.uk/news?page=6	11
Log in or register for online services \| Aberdeen City Councilwww.aberdeencity.gov.uk/log-or-register-online-services	11
Roads, Transport and Parking \| Aberdeen City Councilwww.aberdeencity.gov.uk/services/roads-transport-and-parking	11
Your data \| Aberdeen City Councilwww.aberdeencity.gov.uk/your-data	11
Services for business \| Aberdeen City Councilwww.aberdeencity.gov.uk/services/services-business	11
Planning applications \| Aberdeen City Councilwww.aberdeencity.gov.uk/services/planning-and-building-standards/planning-applications	11
Child protection \| Aberdeen City Councilwww.aberdeencity.gov.uk/services/social-care-and-health/child-protection	10
Pay your Council Tax \| Aberdeen City Councilwww.aberdeencity.gov.uk/services/council-tax/pay-your-council-tax	10

Ensure focus is not fully obscured

Aberdeen City Council

Where this issue has occurred