Level A · WCAG 2.1
2.1.4 Character Key Shortcuts
A shortcut made of a single character key can be turned off, remapped, or only fires when the control has focus.
Partly automated Some failures are detectable, others need judgement.
How it fails in practice
A search that opens whenever “s” is pressed, so dictation software triggers it constantly mid-sentence.
How to fix it
Require a modifier, scope the shortcut to a focused element, or make it configurable.
At a glance
- Level
- Level A — the minimum. Failing one of these usually makes something impossible rather than merely hard.
- Principle
- Operable
- Guideline
- 2.1 Keyboard Accessible
- Added in
- WCAG 2.1
- EN 301 549
- 9.2.1.4
- Automated check
- Partly automated
Partly automated
How far an automated check gets
A tool finds some failures here and cannot see the rest. A clean automated result means the checks that exist found nothing — not that the criterion is met. This is the gap that makes a green scan look like an accessible site, and it is where the keyboard agent, the agents still in development and a human reviewer do the remaining work.
Related criteria
Other criteria under the same guideline.
Find out which criteria your site fails
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