Does W3C WCAG 2.4.3 Focus Order (Level A) apply to my service?

It applies when Service type — any answer; Service is likely to be accessed by children under 18.

From when does this apply?

W3C WCAG 2.4.3 Focus Order (Level A) applies from 5 October 2023. Its current status is: in force.

W3C WCAG · WCAG-2-4-FOCUS-ORDER

W3C WCAG 2.4.3 Focus Order (Level A)

Focusable components must receive focus in an order that preserves meaning and operability when navigated sequentially

HIGHRequirementDesign defaultsTechnical standardIn forceApplies from 5 October 2023

Where this comes from

Provision: 2.4.3 Focus Order (Level A)

Instrument: W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2

Citation: W3C, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2, Success Criterion 2.4.3 Focus Order, Level A, W3C Recommendation 05 October 2023

Text version: WCAG 2.2

Read the official text ↗

Who it applies to

It applies when all of these are true:

Service type — any answer
Service is likely to be accessed by children under 18

What engineering work it implies

Sample acceptance criteria Landfall generates for this obligation:

Interactive elements are keyboard-operable and have visible focus
Content and controls expose correct names/roles/values to assistive tech (ARIA where needed)
Color contrast and text alternatives meet the referenced criterion
Errors are identified in text and programmatically associated with their input
Automated accessibility scan (axe/Lighthouse) passes for the changed views

Questions people ask

Does W3C WCAG 2.4.3 Focus Order (Level A) apply to my service?: It applies when Service type — any answer; Service is likely to be accessed by children under 18.
From when does this apply?: W3C WCAG 2.4.3 Focus Order (Level A) applies from 5 October 2023. Its current status is: in force.

Find out whether this one lands on you

Landfall's pre-scan answers the applicability question above for your product in minutes, then turns every obligation that applies into traceable engineering tickets with a citation chain your auditors can follow.

Run the pre-scan All W3C WCAG obligations

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