Does the Accesskey Attribute Improve Accessibility?
For a long time, accessibility experts have been saying that you should use the accesskey attribute on your links and forms to make Web pages more accessible. The accesskey attribute adds keyboard shortcuts to Web pages so that links and forms can be navigated via the keyboard rather than requiring scrolling and clicking with a mouse or other pointing device.
But, some studies have found that accesskeys cause more problems than they solve.
There are ways around the problems, but if you don't know what the problems are in the first place, you can't design around them. This article will help you understand the issues surrounding using accesskeys as well as how to solve them. Then you can make an informed decision based on the needs of your site and your readers.
Current Status
The accesskey attribute sets a keyboard shortcut on your Web page. You can define a shortcut using any single letter or number. The Web browser then will activate that link or navigate to that form field if the letter or number is pressed along with an activation key. In Windows, this key is "alt" and in Macintosh this key is "control".
You add an accesskey to your HTML by adding the following attribute to link and form tags:
Where "1" is the letter or number that is the accesskey.
What's all the Fuss About?
Accesskeys are important. People with motor difficulties can find using a mouse or pointing device very difficult. If the links and form fields don't have accesskeys they may not be able to click on them or use them.
In a more everyday example, if your mouse were to break, you would find it difficult to navigate through most Web pages without accesskeys. Plus, people browsing with devices like the Nintendo Wii or a cell phone or other non-computer device might find it nearly impossible to click on something without an accesskey.
But, some studies have found that accesskeys cause more problems than they solve.
There are ways around the problems, but if you don't know what the problems are in the first place, you can't design around them. This article will help you understand the issues surrounding using accesskeys as well as how to solve them. Then you can make an informed decision based on the needs of your site and your readers.
Current Status
The accesskey attribute sets a keyboard shortcut on your Web page. You can define a shortcut using any single letter or number. The Web browser then will activate that link or navigate to that form field if the letter or number is pressed along with an activation key. In Windows, this key is "alt" and in Macintosh this key is "control".
You add an accesskey to your HTML by adding the following attribute to link and form tags:
accesskey="1"Where "1" is the letter or number that is the accesskey.
What's all the Fuss About?
Accesskeys are important. People with motor difficulties can find using a mouse or pointing device very difficult. If the links and form fields don't have accesskeys they may not be able to click on them or use them.
In a more everyday example, if your mouse were to break, you would find it difficult to navigate through most Web pages without accesskeys. Plus, people browsing with devices like the Nintendo Wii or a cell phone or other non-computer device might find it nearly impossible to click on something without an accesskey.
Source...