Synonyms: Updates, change of context
See also: Animations, time limits, navigation sequence, modal dialog
Changes of context are:
- Changing to another program,
- Changing of the view port (e.g. switching to another application window),
- Changes to the keyboard focus,
- Changing the content that changes the meaning of the page.
Changes of context expected and required during operation include:
- Enabling a link: Opening a new screen,
- Enabling a Help link: Open Help, possibly in another application (e.g. in a browser or PDF reader),
- Enabling an internal page link: Scrolling to the linked location and changing the keyboard focus,
- Enabling a Submit button: Opening a new screen,
- Enabling a Delete button: Removing the element to be deleted, possibly changing the keyboard focus if necessary (as the delete button has been disabled or removed),
- Enabling the Logout button: Logout from the application,
- Enabling a Menu button: Opening the menu and focusing of the first menu item,
- Enabling a button to open a modal dialog: Opening the dialog and focusing of the first element in the dialog,
- Page scrolling: change of the visible area,
- Navigation with the keyboard (e.g. with the tab key): Change of the keyboard focus, possible change of the visible area (if the focused element is not situated in the visible area),
- Navigating through a radio button group in which there are associated form fields behind each radio button which can only be operated depending on the radio button: The form elements are enabled when the radio button is selected, the other form elements are disabled.
- Navigation through a group of tab panels: The corresponding tab is shown (alternatively, only after the enabling of the tab panel).
Examples of unexpected changes of context which must be avoided or announced:
- Enabling of a check box within a form: Showing additional form fields that are visually located in the navigation sequence before the check box,
- Text input in an input field: Deleting of entries already made in other fields because the entries in this field and the other fields are mutually exclusive,
- Text input in an input field: After reaching the maximum number of characters, the focus is placed in the following input field,
Examples of unexpected changes of context which have to be avoided or announced:
- Enabling a link: Opening a new screen in another application,
- Enabling of a tab panel: The displayed tab or an element in it receives the focus.
Examples of unexpected changes of context which must be avoided:
- Navigation through a group of radio buttons: Opening a new screen,
- Navigation through a table: Opening a modal dialog,
- Fully filled out form: Submitting the form,
- Focusing of a Submit button: Submitting the form,
- Focusing of the Delete button: Removing the element to be deleted.
Operation
Permalink "Operation"No. | Property | Description | Classification | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|
75 | Use of the keyboard, use of pointing device | During the focusing of an element, no change of context may occur. | Must | EN 301 549: 9.3.2.1, 11.3.2.1 |
76 | Use of the keyboard, use of pointing device | When a form element changes its value, no unexpected change of context may occur. Note 1: Unexpected changes of context are changes of context that do not conform to the default behavior of the element and have not been previously announced. Note 2: If unexpected changes of context prevent the use of the keyboard (e.g. due to a loss of focus during use), these are not permitted, even if they are announced in advance. | Must | EN 301 549: 9.3.2.2, 11.3.2.2 |
77 | Use of the keyboard, use of pointing device | Changes of context should only occur if the users have initiated them. Alternatively, the user should be able to disable the changes of context. | Should | WCAG 2.1: 3.2.5 (AAA) |
78 | Updates | It must be possible to disable or adjust automatic changes of context that do not take place after 20 hours (seee time limits and animations). | Must | EN 301 549: 9.2.2.1, 11.2.2.1, 9.2.2.2, 11.2.2.2 |
79 | Updates | It should be possible to avoid or disable automatic changes of context. Note: This does not apply to emergency messages. | Should | WCAG 2.1: 2.2.3 (AAA), 2.2.4 (AAA) |
Programming/interfaces
Permalink "Programming/interfaces"No. | Property | Description | Classification | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|
80 | Update | Status messages must be marked so that they are output by the assistive technology without receiving the focus. | Must | EN 301 549: 9.4.1.3, 11.4.1.3.1 |
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