Keyboard navigation
Also known as: Keyboard accessibility
Keyboard navigation means every part of a site can be used with the keyboard alone — no mouse required — using Tab, Enter, Space and the arrow keys.
In plain terms
Lots of people never touch a mouse: screen-reader users, people with tremors or limited hand movement, and plenty of power users. They move through a page with Tab, activate things with Enter or Space, and use arrows inside menus and sliders. If something only works on click or hover, they're locked out.
Why it matters
Keyboard access is the foundation everything else sits on — if a control isn't keyboard-operable, no assistive technology can reach it either. It's WCAG 2.1.1, a Level A must-have.
Unplug your mouse and try to open your menu, fill your form and submit it. Anywhere you get stuck is a real barrier for someone.
Related terms
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