Controlling a computer with a keyboard only
Many users control a computer using keyboard only, so no mouse or similar pointing device is available. Thus, it's crucial that any software (including websites) is operable by keyboard only. This does not only benefit disabled users, but also power users.
Notice: we are talking specifically about Windows operating systems here. For macOS, Linux, and others, there exist similar keyboard shortcuts.
Why no mouse?
Many users do not use a mouse (or similar pointing device):
- Either they cannot control one due to a motor impairment.
- Or they simply do not want to control one as they are power users (see below).
Keyboard only navigation
Computers (and all their standard software) can flawlessly be controlled without a pointing device (for example a mouse) by using system wide and application specific keyboard shortcuts and quick keys.
Even for users who are not able to control a common keyboard, there are various special input devices. Sometimes called "switches", they are tailored to the needs of different user groups. The complexity of these devices varies a lot, some of them having only a few buttons. But in general they are "mimicking" default keyboards and offer similar interaction opportunities.
So by making sure that your websites are controllable with a default keyboard, many other special input devices is automatically taken care of. But before we look at how to control a website with keyboard only, it is useful to know the larger context of controlling any arbitrary application on your computer. If you are in a hurry though, you may skip the rest of this page.
Keyboard shortcuts
Keyboard shortcuts trigger certain functionalities, be it system wide or application specific. Keyboard shortcuts usually are combinations of at least one modifier key (Windows, Ctrl, Alt, Shift) and any other key.
- System wide keyboard shortcut example:
Ctrl + Alt + Delopens the Windows Task Manager. - Application specific keyboard shortcut example:
Ctrl + Ssaves the currently opened document (for example in a text editor).
Hints about application specific keyboard shortcuts usually are displayed to the right of a menu item.
Quick keys
In some menus, a specific character of an item name is underlined: if the menu is open and focused, this means you can quickly activate the item using this key.
Becoming a power user (optional)
Power users know and use their often used applications' keyboard shortcuts: it makes them much faster than average users, as they do not need to switch between keyboard and mouse all the time.
This is a good example for the fact that optimising a website for one particular group (for example motor impaired users), you often also optimise it for other groups (for example power users). A win-win situation.
For the future, we suggest you try to use keyboard shortcuts instead of your mouse. This way, you will automatically test your own implementations for keyboard only accessibility while developing them.
More keyboard shortcuts
For some more inspiration, find here additional system-wide and application-specific keyboard shortcuts. If you know and use all of them by heart, you can officially call yourself a power user!
System wide shortcuts
The following is a collection of some well known shortcuts (in no specific order).
- Press
Windowsto toggle Start menu - Press
Alt + Tabto switch between open windows - Press
Altto focus current windows' application menu - Press
Tabto jump between focusable controls - Press
Enterto confirm something (for example closing a dialog and applying changes) - Press
Spaceto also confirm or interact with stuff (often used interchangeably withEnter) - Press
Escto cancel something (for example closing a dialog without applying changes)
Notice: by pressing Alt, the focus is placed in the current application's menu (if available). Using the arrow keys, you can then browse it. The focused item can be activated by pressing Enter.
Application specific shortcuts
Most of the following shortcuts are pretty common to a wide set of similar applications:
Ctrl + S: SaveCtrl + O: OpenCtrl + T: Open tabCtrl + W: Close window (or tab)Alt + F4: Exit applicationCtrl + C: CopyCtrl + V: PasteCtrl + F: Find
This list by far is not complete, and each application may offer very distinct additional shortcuts.
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