Learning experience | Royal Roads University

News | Royal Roads University

Contact us | Royal Roads University

Page not found | Royal Roads University

English language programs | Royal Roads University

Experiential Learning Hub | Royal Roads University

General studies courses | Royal Roads University

Testimonials | Royal Roads University

Research | Royal Roads University

Flexible admission | Royal Roads 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

July 2025

June 2025

Royal Roads University

	Title / URL	Issues
	Learning experience \| Royal Roads Universitywww.royalroads.ca/why-royal-roads/learning-experience	15
	News \| Royal Roads Universitywww.royalroads.ca/news	15
	Contact us \| Royal Roads Universitywww.royalroads.ca/contact-us	15
	Page not found \| Royal Roads Universitywww.royalroads.ca/invented-url-for-404-page	15
	English language programs \| Royal Roads Universitywww.royalroads.ca/programs-courses/english-language-programs	15
	Experiential Learning Hub \| Royal Roads Universitywww.royalroads.ca/EL-Hub	15
	General studies courses \| Royal Roads Universitywww.royalroads.ca/programs-and-courses/courses-for-credit	15
	Testimonials \| Royal Roads Universitywww.royalroads.ca/why-royal-roads/testimonials	15
	Research \| Royal Roads Universitywww.royalroads.ca/research	15
	Flexible admission \| Royal Roads Universitywww.royalroads.ca/admission/flexible-admission	15

Ensure focus is not fully obscured

Royal Roads University

Where this issue has occurred