UI Controls

UI controls

UI controls are elements that can perform an action (or "do something").

UI controls are links and form elements by default. However scripting can transform any element into a UI control.

Appearance

Without colour, UI controls (specifically links) must be visually evident (e.g. text decoration or using layout).

Focus and input

Focus exclusively activates a UI control for use by the user. Losing focus deactivates the UI control.

Input occurs when a user changes the value of the active UI control by interacting with it.

When using UI controls with a keyboard,

• Changing focus is always available to the user (no trapping).
• Receiving focus is always available for all UI controls.
• A visual focus indicator is exclusively visible on the active UI control.
• The order that UI controls receive focus reflects the intended flow, meaning, and operation of the page.
• Page context must not change when a UI control receives focus or input.

Event handlers (JavaScript)

Event handlers are special methods executed in JavaScript when a user activates or interacts with an UI control.

When using JavaScript, event handlers must be:

• Independent (onFocus, onBlur, onSelect, onChange, and onClick)