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Example
Make Form Elements Keyboard Accessible
Many Web users are unable to use a mouse or other pointing device. They will rely on a keyboard to access form elements. Even those who can use a pointing device often use a keyboard in addition to a mouse to improve efficiency. Therefore it is important that forms be keyboard accessible. Adding TABINDEX and ACCESSKEY attributes to form elements will improve their accessibility by providing shortcuts to the various fields, reducing the number of keystroke required to find one's way into the form. In the example linked above, TABINDEX has been used to allow the user to go directly to the first field of the form, bypassing the navigation links at the top of the page. Internet Explorer 4.0 or higher, and Netscape 6.0 support TABINDEX.
Note: Because of TABINDEX is used in this way, the order of the tabbing on this page will differ from other pages.
Grouping and Labeling Form Elements
Grouping form elements by their type can improve comprehension of a form by enclosing related information in smaller logical chunks. The FIELDSET and LEGEND elements make this possible. FIELDSET closes related information within a box, and LEGEND labels that box. The FIELDSET and LEGEND elements are supported by Internet Explorer 4.0 or higher, and by Netscape 6.
The example form also uses the LABEL element to explicitly associate form labels with their elements. In most cases, if the form's labels appear immediately before or above each field, specialty browsers will recognize that these labels are meant to go with each particular field. In some instances however, for example on smaller screens, or where labels are not immediately adjacent to their respective fields, these browsers will not associate the labels with their respective form elements, and as a result users may have difficulty determining what information is to be entered into these fields. By using the LABEL element, designers can be assured that labels are correctly associated with their fields, and that users of assistive technology understand the function of each field.
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