Macquarie University | Tertiary Education

Library | Macquarie University

Privacy | About | Macquarie University

Other study options | Macquarie University

PhD and research degrees | Macquarie University | Sydney

Postgraduate study | Macquarie University

About the University | Macquarie University

Find a course | Macquarie University

Study at Macquarie University

Alumni | Macquarie University Sydney

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

February 2025

January 2025

Macquarie University

Title / URL	Issues
Macquarie University \| Tertiary Educationwww.mq.edu.au/	12
Library \| Macquarie Universitywww.mq.edu.au/about/facilities/library	11
Privacy \| About \| Macquarie Universitywww.mq.edu.au/about/about-the-university/structure-governance/privacy	11
Other study options \| Macquarie Universitywww.mq.edu.au/study/find-a-course/other-study-options	11
PhD and research degrees \| Macquarie University \| Sydneywww.mq.edu.au/research/phd-and-research-degrees	11
Postgraduate study \| Macquarie Universitywww.mq.edu.au/study/find-a-course/postgraduate	11
About the University \| Macquarie Universitywww.mq.edu.au/about/about-the-university	11
Find a course \| Macquarie Universitywww.mq.edu.au/study/find-a-course	11
Study at Macquarie Universitywww.mq.edu.au/study	11
Alumni \| Macquarie University Sydneywww.mq.edu.au/alumni	11

Ensure focus is not fully obscured

Macquarie University

Where this issue has occurred