Western Carolina University - Alumni Association

Western Carolina University - Academic Degree Programs

Western Carolina University - Admissions and Aid

Western Carolina University - WCU Families

Western Carolina University - Academic Programs & Support

Western Carolina University - Bardo Arts Center

Western Carolina University - Financial Aid Office

Western Carolina University - Hunter Library

Western Carolina University - Contact WCU

Western Carolina University - About Western Carolina

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

January 2025

December 2024

Western Carolina University

Title / URL	Issues
Western Carolina University - Alumni Associationwww.wcu.edu/engage/alumni/index.aspx	100
Western Carolina University - Academic Degree Programswww.wcu.edu/learn/programs/index.aspx	92
Western Carolina University - Admissions and Aidwww.wcu.edu/apply/index.aspx	71
Western Carolina University - WCU Familieswww.wcu.edu/experience/wcu-families/index.aspx	68
Western Carolina University - Academic Programs & Supportwww.wcu.edu/learn/index.aspx	54
Western Carolina University - Bardo Arts Centerwww.wcu.edu/bardo-arts-center/	52
Western Carolina University - Financial Aid Officewww.wcu.edu/apply/financial-aid/index.aspx	51
Western Carolina University - Hunter Librarywww.wcu.edu/hunter-library/index.aspx	42
Western Carolina University - Contact WCUwww.wcu.edu/discover/contact-wcu/index.aspx	42
Western Carolina University - About Western Carolinawww.wcu.edu/discover/index.aspx	40

Ensure focus is not fully obscured

Western Carolina University

Where this issue has occurred