Intended audience: Website owners, website visitors
What is a skip to main content link?
A skip to main content link is a link at the top of the page that is visibly hidden until a keyboard user focuses on it. Once this link is activated, keyboard focus skips directly to the main content area of the page. This allows keyboard users to skip over cumbersome navigation menus and repeated blocks of content and quickly reach the content they want to interact with.
When does AudioEye apply a skip to main content link?
AudioEye® applies a skip to main content link to a site when one is not present. AudioEye may also apply a skip to main content link to replace an existing link that does not function properly. AudioEye’s technology will:
- Detect whether or not a skip to main content link is present at the top of the page.
- Detect where the main content area begins.
- Apply a skip to main content link at the top of the page if one is not already present.
- Apply required attributes to the main content area for proper keyboard functionality.
If AudioEye’s technology cannot reliably complete one or more of these steps, the need for a skip to main content link will be reported as requiring a custom fix rather than risk applying a link that does not function appropriately. Depending on the customer's service level, this fix may be completed by the customer at the source code level or with a custom-coded fix from AudioEye’s developers.
Is a skip to main content link necessary?
A skip to main content link is necessary to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 Level A Success Criterion 2.4.1: Bypass Blocks.
What common mistakes do developers make when implementing skip to main content links?
When implementing any accessibility solution, it is important to make sure common mistakes are avoided. One common mistake with skip to main content links is when developers fail to apply the appropriate attributes to the main content area to ensure keyboard focus is sent properly. When this occurs, content is bypassed when the tab key is pressed, but it doesn’t work for screen reader users navigating with the arrow keys. This is a problem when there isn’t an interactive element at or near the beginning of the main content area. AudioEye’s skip to main content link ensures proper keyboard functionality is applied.