Character Key Shortcuts
Single-character shortcuts must be switchable off, remappable, or active only on focus.
Definition
WCAG 2.1.4 requires that shortcuts using only letter, punctuation, number or symbol characters can be turned off, remapped to include a modifier, or made active only when the relevant component has focus.
Craft convention. True because the industry converged on it. Breaking it costs familiarity, not correctness.
Safe approaches
- Prefer modifier combinations for global shortcuts.
- Scope single-key shortcuts to a focused component rather than the document.
- Provide a settings page to disable or remap shortcuts.
- Publish a shortcut reference, and make it reachable by keyboard.
Sources
Where a source establishes something narrower than the popular reading of it, the note says so.
Continue from here
Each link says what the connection is, so you can tell a principle from an alternative from a thing people mix this up with.
Applies when you are designing
Related concept
Connected closely enough to change how you apply this.
- Keyboard NavigationAccessibility
- Flexibility and Efficiency of UseHeuristic
Nearby in the Atlas
Adjacent territory, found through shared tags rather than a stated link.