Keep focus predictable when details expand

What to change

Agree a consistent disclosure pattern in which the trigger identifies its state and the newly available content follows logically.

A worked example

Illustrative example

Expanding travel information leaves the visitor at its labelled trigger, then allows reading or tabbing into the revealed directions in the normal order.

How to check the result

Accept when expansion and collapse do not unexpectedly relocate the visitor, and hidden panel controls are absent from keyboard navigation.

A mistake to avoid

Automatically focusing the first link inside every expanded panel can skip introductory information or surprise someone merely inspecting the section.

Your action checklist

Use these checks to prepare a discussion with your team or supplier. Tick a check when you have recorded the decision or evidence, rather than when a feature has simply been promised.

Decisions to recordReach a closed details control with a keyboard and activate it. Check the control's state and how the next Tab press reaches any links inside.Close the panel while focus is on its trigger. Then test closing through any separate control offered inside, checking where focus returns.Ask the supplier to demonstrate the same interaction with a screen reader. The panel's expanded or collapsed state should be available without visual inspection.

Evidence, open questions and decisionsNext action and responsible role

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