Using The Tab Key on a Web Page.

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What the Tab Key can do on a web page.

The tab key with the help of the enter, left, right, up and down arrows keys, can be used to access most things on a web page. You really don't need a mouse to do it, here's how.

Tabbing runs through three areas of the screen in sequence. The top address bar and the favourites/history bars (if they are open) first, then any input forms and finally page links.

Notes

  1. This page has been written with the assumption that you are using a recent version of the Internet Explorer browser.

    Other browsers usually support tabbing but may have different features or work slightly differently.

  2. In Microsofts latest version of Internet Explorer (version 7); control buttons, menu options are also tabbed through after the address bar.

    Access these by pressing return or enter for a control button and use the down arrow button for the menu's then the enter or return key to select an option.

  3. If you tab after clicking on the screen, when you start tabbing you will start from a screen element (ie a link, input box) nearest where you clicked.

Where is the Tab key?

Common Tab Key Symbols. The tab key is often marked with two arrows pointing horizontally in opposite directions. Usually the third key down on the extreme left hand side of the keyboard.

Tabbed to Far - Back Tabbing.

Tabbed past where you wanted? Hold down the shift key then tap the tab key to go back one or more fields.

Alternatively just keep tabbing, it may take a while on a large page to get back to the start of the page though.

Accessing the Address Bar, Favourites and History.

Address Bar, Favourites, History are all optional elements on your browser. If they are not visible you will not be able to use the tab key to access them. Tabbing will just go onto the next element.

Press the tab key once for the address bar, where you can key in web addresses directly. Tabbing once more takes you into the list of favourites or history on IE6 or early versions. But on IE 7 has extra tab options, so you tab through the control buttons, search box and windows tabs before getting to the favourites or history lists.

In the history or favourites bars you can use the up and down arrow keys to move about the lists, with the left and right keys used to open or close folders. Press enter to open a favourite or a screen you have previously visited (history).

Tabbing again takes you to the main page.

Note: if you have clicked the mouse somewhere on the page before you press the tab key, tabbing probably won't start with the address bar.

Turning the Favourites Bar On and Off.

Ctrl + i two key combination. Turns the Favourites Bar on.

Hold down the Ctrl key and then tap the i key once to open the favourites bar. Close it with the escape key in IE Version 7 or repeat Ctrl+i keys to close in previous versions.

The bar when displayed, will focus (high light) the first element in the list.

Remember you can use the arrow keys to move up and down and the enter key to select a list entry.

Turning the History Bar On and Off.

Ctrl + h two key combination. Turns the History List on.

Hold down the Ctrl key and then tap the i key to open the history list. Close it with the escape key in IE Version 7 or repeat Ctrl+i keys to close in previous versions.

The bar when displayed, will focus (high light) the first element in the list.

Remember you can use the arrow keys to move up and down and the enter key to select a list entry.

Accessing Input Forms.

If there is a form on the page. Tabbing once more after the last of the address bar, favourites and history bars takes you to the input form.

The first box (or field) of the form will be focused. If it was outside of the current screen area the page will scroll down to display it. Use the tab key to move from field to field.

In the form area, a default on many input forms is to use the enter key on any field to complete and submit the form. This saves time if the following fields can be left blank but as many have a habit of entering after every field, causes many forms to be submitted with incomplete details entered.

Until you get used to input forms, its safest not to use the enter key apart from at the end of the form to submit or clear the form.

Try tabbing through the form below, if you have good vision, see the keyboard cursor on the entry boxes, or a dotted box appear around the active button, tick box, submit and clear button.

On the test form: -

  • There are two text boxes the first after the heading 'Favourite Colour.' The second after 'Mothers Maiden Name.'
  • Then a radio button box with a yes or no option, following the heading 'I like Haggis.' Use the left, right or up and down arrow keys here.
  • A tick box option following the heading 'Tick to Accept." Use the space bar here, once to tick or twice to clear a tick.
  • Finally two buttons to 'Submit' or 'Clear' the form, using the Enter or Return key.

Favourite Colour.

Mothers Maiden Name.

I like Haggis? Yes   No

Tick to Accept.

   

Accessing Page Links.

If you continue pressing the tab key after going through any forms on the page you start to access the page links.

Each link in turn will be displayed with a dotted border. When the next link is outside of the current page area the window will scroll to displayed the new link. Pressing enter or return will activate the link.

Normally this is top of page downwards but some web page design may cause the links to jump erratically.

Note that single key Keyboard Shortcuts are disabled on this page.