Operable

2.1.4 Character Key Shortcuts

Level AWCAG 2.2Manual testing only

Single-key shortcuts, using a letter or number alone, must be possible to turn off or remap, or work only when the related control has focus.

Who it helps

Speech input users, whose dictated words can set off shortcuts by accident.

Failures we see most

  • Web apps where pressing "s" opens search, so dictating a sentence triggers it

How it gets tested

No automated tool can judge 2.1.4 reliably, so a specialist tests it by hand, with a keyboard and a screen reader where that applies.

How we fix it

A specialist fixes this in your site's code or content, and we re-test the page before you sign off.

Official text: W3C, Understanding 2.1.4 Character Key Shortcuts. Checks listed from axe-core 4.14.0.

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