Layout & accessibility

Knowledge Center hub: Can the page be used without a mouse?

By Benchmark Enterprise Systems, LLC · Published

Editorial review assigned to Ryan Schober · Review pending

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The direct answer

Interactive elements should be reachable and operable through a keyboard where the interface requires interaction. A visually obvious control can still be unavailable to someone using another input method. For this knowledge center hub, the practical test is whether a useful article can be found, opened and reached again after filters are cleared.

Can the page be used without a mouse?

Start with a reader searching a practical question without knowing an article title. The keyboard access check concerns search terms, topic filters, pagination and article links. A large article count can hide weak discovery. Search returning a result is less useful if the guide does not answer the question or preserve a clear next step.

A company library can be shared across branches. The reader should choose a branch only when it matters for a local answer or contact.

Check it on this page

Search a plain-language question, combine it with a topic, clear the filters, and open an article from a later results page.

  • Tab through the controls in a meaningful order.
  • Open menus and operate links with the keyboard.
  • Check the return from any expanded or modal state in an approved preview.

A shared link treatment underlined an entire content block

One reviewed page applied hover underlining to a large linked area, making the whole block look like linked text. The repair needed to address the scope of the style rather than rewriting the content.

For this knowledge center hub, the check focuses on search terms, topic filters, pagination and article links. Style the action label deliberately and check the pointer and keyboard states after changing a shared rule.

Repair the source, then check the published result

Repair inaccessible controls and preserve suitable native behavior. Retest entry, interaction and recovery instead of checking only the first focusable element.

Record the keyboard access result for this destination, then repeat the customer route until a useful article can be found, opened and reached again after filters are cleared. If the repair changed a shared component, compare another destination with different approved facts to detect unintended copying.

Explore a relevant example

The linked Benchmark page helps you inspect search terms, topic filters, pagination and article links. It is a current example to explore, not evidence that every business has the same problem.

Further reading

Platform guidance can change. Consult the current official documentation before making platform-specific changes.

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