Connect With Us | Chapman University

Schools and Colleges | Chapman University

Undergraduate Academics | Chapman University

Facilities | Chapman University

Chapman University | A Top Private University in California | Chapman University

Our Story | Chapman University

Our Home | Chapman University

Visit Rinker Campus | Chapman University

Honorary Degrees | Chapman University

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

Chapman University

	Title / URL	Issues
	Connect With Us \| Chapman Universitywww.chapman.edu/about/connect/index.aspx	4
	Schools and Colleges \| Chapman Universitywww.chapman.edu/academics/schools-colleges.aspx	4
	Undergraduate Academics \| Chapman Universitywww.chapman.edu/academics/undergraduate/index.aspx	3
	Facilities \| Chapman Universitywww.chapman.edu/about/our-home/keck-center/facilities.aspx	2
	Chapman University \| A Top Private University in California \| Chapman Universitywww.chapman.edu/	2
	Our Story \| Chapman Universitywww.chapman.edu/about/our-story/index.aspx	2
	Chapman University \| A Top Private University in California \| Chapman Universitywww.chapman.edu/index.aspx	2
	Our Home \| Chapman Universitywww.chapman.edu/about/our-home/index.aspx	1
	Visit Rinker Campus \| Chapman Universitywww.chapman.edu/about/our-home/rinker-campus/visit.aspx	1
	Honorary Degrees \| Chapman Universitywww.chapman.edu/academics/provost/honorary-degrees.aspx	1

Ensure focus is not fully obscured

Chapman University

Where this issue has occurred