1.2 KiB
1.2 KiB
tip_number, date, category, status
| tip_number | date | category | status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 48 | 2026-09-22 | a11y | pending |
Tip #48 — Keyboard navigation in the item-picker
Date: 2026-09-22
Category: a11y
Source: MC-Survival Wiki Daily Tip (cron @ 18:00 MESZ)
Keyboard navigation in the item-picker
Add full keyboard support to the item picker: arrow keys to move focus across the grid, Enter to select, Escape to close, type-to-search to jump to the first matching item, and proper aria-activedescendant for screen-reader announcements. It solves the mouse-only bottleneck that locks out both power users and screen-reader users, who currently cannot use the picker efficiently. The signal is a measurable share of edits and advanced searches coming from keyboard-heavy users (server-side we can see editor workflows that repeatedly open the picker). Visible focus rings are not optional — without them, the keyboard support is invisible to the user.
Implementation tips
- Arrow keys move the focus grid, Enter selects, Escape closes, type-to-search jumps to first match.
- Visible focus rings on the focused item (not just default outline — match the theme).
- Add aria-activedescendant to the picker container so screen readers announce the focused item.