The Otago MBA, New Zealand’s best MBA, Otago MBA | University of Otago

Summer School Home, Summer School | University of Otago

Subjects and papers | University of Otago

First time visit: View without clicking anything

Studying at Otago | University of Otago

Terminology, Studying at Otago | University of Otago

University of Otago

Page Not Found | University of Otago

Textbooks, Studying at Otago | University of Otago

For current students at the University of Otago | University of Otago

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

August 2025

July 2025

	Title / URL	Issues
	The Otago MBA, New Zealand’s best MBA, Otago MBA \| University of Otagowww.otago.ac.nz/mba	3
	Summer School Home, Summer School \| University of Otagowww.otago.ac.nz/summerschool	3
	Subjects and papers \| University of Otagowww.otago.ac.nz/study/subjects	3
	First time visit: View without clicking anythingwww.otago.ac.nz/	3
	Studying at Otago \| University of Otagowww.otago.ac.nz/study	3
	Terminology, Studying at Otago \| University of Otagowww.otago.ac.nz/study/terms	3
	University of Otagowww.otago.ac.nz/	3
	Page Not Found \| University of Otagowww.otago.ac.nz/invented-url-for-404-page	3
	Textbooks, Studying at Otago \| University of Otagowww.otago.ac.nz/study/textbooks	3
	For current students at the University of Otago \| University of Otagowww.otago.ac.nz/currentstudents	3

Ensure focus is not fully obscured

University of Otago

Where this issue has occurred