Research | Elmhurst University

Events from Monday, February 3 – Friday, February 21 | Elmhurst University

Accreditation | Elmhurst University

Community Outreach | Elmhurst University

Administrative Offices | Elmhurst University

Search | Elmhurst University

Leadership | Elmhurst University

Degree Completion Programs | Elmhurst University

Academic Schools and Departments | Elmhurst University

Student Diversity and Inclusion | Elmhurst 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

Elmhurst College

Title / URL	Issues
Research \| Elmhurst Universitywww.elmhurst.edu/academics/research/	10
Events from Monday, February 3 – Friday, February 21 \| Elmhurst Universitywww.elmhurst.edu/events/	10
Accreditation \| Elmhurst Universitywww.elmhurst.edu/about/accreditation/	10
Community Outreach \| Elmhurst Universitywww.elmhurst.edu/about/community-outreach/	9
Administrative Offices \| Elmhurst Universitywww.elmhurst.edu/about/offices/	8
Search \| Elmhurst Universitywww.elmhurst.edu/search/	8
Leadership \| Elmhurst Universitywww.elmhurst.edu/about/leadership/	8
Degree Completion Programs \| Elmhurst Universitywww.elmhurst.edu/academics/adult/	7
Academic Schools and Departments \| Elmhurst Universitywww.elmhurst.edu/academics/departments/	7
Student Diversity and Inclusion \| Elmhurst Universitywww.elmhurst.edu/about/diversity-inclusion/	7

Ensure focus is not fully obscured

Elmhurst College

Where this issue has occurred