Tools and Resources | University of Miami

Apply Now | University of Miami

Student Life | University of Miami

University of Miami

Academics | University of Miami

Centers and Institutes

Privacy Statements | University of Miami

Athletics | University of Miami

Community Engagement | University of Miami

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

Title / URL	Issues
Tools and Resources \| University of Miamiwelcome.miami.edu/tools/index.html	100
Apply Now \| University of Miamiwelcome.miami.edu/apply-now/index.html	55
Student Life \| University of Miamiwelcome.miami.edu/student-life/index.html	54
University of Miamiwelcome.miami.edu/index.html	53
University of Miamiwelcome.miami.edu/	53
Academics \| University of Miamiwelcome.miami.edu/academics/index.html	52
Centers and Instituteswelcome.miami.edu/academics/centers-and-institutes/index.html	50
Privacy Statements \| University of Miamiwelcome.miami.edu/privacy-and-legal/privacy/index.html	48
Athletics \| University of Miamiwelcome.miami.edu/athletics/index.html	45
Community Engagement \| University of Miamiwelcome.miami.edu/about-um/community-engagement/index.html	45

Ensure focus is not fully obscured

University of Miami

Where this issue has occurred