Free Keyboard Accessibility Checker

Find keyboard navigation barriers on your site. Detect focus traps, missing focus indicators, and interactive elements that keyboard users cannot reach.

What It Checks

How Our Keyboard Accessibility Checker Works

Our keyboard checker evaluates your page for keyboard accessibility. It detects elements with click handlers but no keyboard equivalent, missing or suppressed focus indicators, tabindex values that disrupt natural tab order, focus traps where keyboard users get stuck, and interactive elements that are not reachable via keyboard. It also checks for proper skip navigation links.

Why It Matters

The Impact of Keyboard Accessibility Checker Issues

Keyboard accessibility is essential for users who cannot use a mouse - including people with motor disabilities, blind users, and power users who prefer keyboard navigation. If any part of your site cannot be operated with a keyboard alone, you fail a Level A WCAG requirement. Keyboard traps (where users get stuck in a component) are among the most severe accessibility failures.

Common Issues

Issues Our Keyboard Accessibility Checker Finds

  • No visible focus indicator

    Interactive elements that show no visual change when focused via keyboard. Users cannot tell which element is currently selected without a focus ring.

  • Click-only interactions

    Elements with onclick handlers but no keyboard event handlers. Div and span elements used as buttons that keyboard users cannot activate.

  • Positive tabindex values

    Elements with tabindex values greater than 0 that override the natural tab order, creating unpredictable navigation for keyboard users.

  • Focus traps

    Modal dialogs, dropdown menus, or carousels that trap keyboard focus with no way to escape. Users must reload the page to continue.

WCAG Criteria

Related WCAG Requirements

2.1.1 Level A

Keyboard

All functionality is operable through a keyboard interface without requiring specific timings.

2.4.7 Level AA

Focus Visible

Any keyboard operable user interface has a mode of operation where the keyboard focus indicator is visible.

How We Help

How AccessGuard Fixes This

  • Automatic Detection

    Our scanner checks your entire site for keyboard accessibility checker issues in minutes. No manual testing required.

  • AI-Powered Fix Suggestions

    Get the exact code changes needed to fix each issue. Copy the fix, send it to your developer, and it's done.

  • Plain English Reports

    Every issue explained without technical jargon. Understand what is wrong and why it matters, even without coding knowledge.

  • Priority Ranking

    Issues ranked by lawsuit risk so you fix the most dangerous ones first. Focus on what matters, not a 500-item checklist.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is keyboard accessibility so important?

Keyboard accessibility is a baseline requirement because many assistive technologies - including screen readers, switch devices, and voice control - translate their input into keyboard commands. If your site works with a keyboard, it likely works with most assistive technologies too.

How do I test keyboard navigation?

Put your mouse away and try using your site with only the keyboard. Press Tab to move forward, Shift+Tab to move backward, Enter or Space to activate buttons and links, and Escape to close dialogs. If you get stuck anywhere or cannot see where focus is, those are keyboard accessibility issues.

What is a focus trap and when is it acceptable?

A focus trap keeps keyboard focus within a specific area. It is acceptable (and required) inside modal dialogs - focus should cycle within the modal until it is closed. It is never acceptable on a regular page where users cannot escape a component.

Related Tools

Other Accessibility Checkers

  • Form Accessibility Checker

    Scan your forms for missing labels, poor error handling, and input barriers. Make sure every user can complete your forms, from signup to checkout.

  • Landmark Checker

    Verify your page has proper landmark regions for screen reader navigation. Check for missing header, nav, main, and footer landmarks.

  • ARIA Accessibility Checker

    Validate ARIA roles, states, and properties across your site. Catch invalid ARIA usage that confuses screen readers and assistive technology.

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