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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

June 2025

May 2025

Western Sydney University

	Title / URL	Issues
	Students \| Western Sydney Universitywww.westernsydney.edu.au/students	11
	Staff \| Western Sydney Universitywww.westernsydney.edu.au/staff	10
	Home \| Western Sydney Universitywww.westernsydney.edu.au/	10
	School of Computer, Data and Mathematical Sciences \| Western Sydney Universitywww.westernsydney.edu.au/schools/socdms	10
	School of Business \| Western Sydney Universitywww.westernsydney.edu.au/schools/sobus	10
	Programs \| Western Sydney Universitywww.westernsydney.edu.au/future/study/courses	10
	School of Engineering, Design and Built Environment \| Western Sydney Universitywww.westernsydney.edu.au/schools/soedbe	10
	Future Students \| Western Sydney Universitywww.westernsydney.edu.au/future	10
	Searchwww.westernsydney.edu.au/search	10
	Research \| Western Sydney Universitywww.westernsydney.edu.au/research	10

Ensure focus is not fully obscured

Western Sydney University

Where this issue has occurred