a11yTips

Create a tabbing order for PDF content that is logical and intuitive

Make sure the navigation order of active elements is logical and intuitive

Users who depend on assistive technologies such as screen readers or simply cannot manipulate a mouse will often attempt to quickly make their way in PDF documents by tabbing through the different active elements (such as links and form controls) that are made available. Whenever the tabbing sequence fails at being logical and predictable, users may find themselves in situations where they are unable to reach a certain form control, helplessly skipping over a link, or focus randomly tabbing in different parts of the document with no apparent coherent order. In order to provide users with a focus order that does not create confusion and frustration, authors need to make sure that the sequence in which the different objects grab focus is both intuitive and predictable.

To do so, simply structure the content correctly in the authoring tool used to create the document, and thoroughly validate what the focus order is like by tabbing through the content with the keyboard before proceeding to create the tagged PDF. As keyboard focus successfully sets through the active elements, authors will have the assurance that users will be able to reliably predict where the focus will go next. And the more predictable and logical the focus path will be, the easier it will become for users to navigate within a document without a mouse.

User Story

As a user navigating without using a mouse, I want to reliably predict where the tabbing order will bring me next, so that I can navigate efficiently through content, without missing a single active element.

Simple Code Example

Not Applicable

Testing Methodology

Using only the keyboard, verify that the tabbing order through content is correct, by using the tabulation key to bring the focus to every active element in the document. Check that the sequence in which active elements are reached is both logical and intuitive and that none of the elements are skipped.

Specification Details