Manual Focus Handling
Manual focus handling is a web accessibility and user interface development concept where developers programmatically control keyboard focus within applications, particularly in single-page applications (SPAs) and dynamic content. It involves managing which element receives focus when content changes, such as after navigation, modal openings, or form submissions, to ensure a logical and accessible user experience. This is crucial for users who rely on keyboards, screen readers, or other assistive technologies to navigate interfaces.
Developers should learn manual focus handling when building accessible web applications, especially SPAs using frameworks like React, Angular, or Vue, where automatic focus management is often insufficient. It's essential for compliance with accessibility standards like WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) to support users with disabilities, improve usability for keyboard-only navigation, and prevent focus traps in modals or dynamic content updates. Use cases include setting focus to new content after page transitions, managing focus in modal dialogs, and restoring focus after closing overlays.