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A11ySignal
Level AWCAG 2.0WCAG 2.1WCAG 2.2EN 301 549 § 9.3.2.1

3.2.1
On Focus

Focusing something must not change the page by itself.

What the standard says

When any user interface component receives focus, it does not initiate a change of context.

Why it matters

A keyboard user tabs to explore. If tabbing onto a select box submits the form, exploring becomes dangerous.

What a failure looks like

  • failsA `<select>` that navigates on focus.
  • failsA field that opens a modal when focused.

How to fix it

  • doAct on activation — a click, Enter, or an explicit Go button — never on focus alone.

How A11ySignal checks it

manual

No automated rule can judge this criterion, and we will not pretend otherwise. A clean scan does not mean 3.2.1 passes — it means nothing we can measure fails. This one needs a person.

Also under 3.2 Predictable