KILL IE6

12 Accesskeys

Standards-compliant XHTML and CSS, semantic markup and access keys make for an accessible website. Access keys allow you to navigate a site using your keyboard.

This sites uses access keys as recommended by the W3C. You can find more information on access keys at W3C Access key recommendations.

Accesskey Standards

Over the years, a standard has been established in the english-speaking world.
The list below is from the UK Government Accesskey Standard:
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/e-government/resources/handbook/html/2-4.asp#2.4.4

[S] Skip navigation
[1] Home page
[2] What's new
[3] Sitemap
[4] Search
[5] Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
[6] Help
[7] Complaints procedure
[8] Terms and conditions
[9] Feedback form
[0] Access key details

Accesskeys on this page

[0] Accesskeys
[1] Intensivstation (HOME)
[2] Navigation
[3] Sitemap
[4] search
[9] Contact

Accesskeys in various browsers

• Internet Explorer 4.5 (Mac)
• Accesskeys not supported.
• Internet Explorer 5+ (Mac)
• ctrl-key plus access key.
• Internet Explorer 4 (Win)
• Alt-key plus access key.
• Internet Explorer 5+ (Win)
• Alt-key plus access key. Then release these keys and press enter
• Firefox, Mozilla und Netscape 7+ (Mac OS X)
• ctrl-key plus access key.
• Firefox, Mozilla und Netscape 7+ (Win)
• Shift and Alt-key plus access key.
• Safari (Mac OS X)
• ctrl-key plus access key.
• Opera (Mac OS X)
• shift-key, escape-key plus access key.
• Opera (Win)
• shift-key, escape-key plus access key.
• Netscape 6 und älter (Alle Betriebssysteme)
• Access keys not supported

XHTML for Accesskeys

<div id="accesskeys">
<ul>
<li><a href="/accesskeys/" accesskey="0">Access keys</a></li>
<li><a href="/" accesskey="1">Intensivstation (HOME)</a></li>
<li><a href="#topnavi" accesskey="2">Navigation</a></li>
<li><a href="#content" accesskey="3">Contents</a></li>
<li><a href="/contact/" accesskey="9">Contact</a></li>
</ul>
</div>

CSS for Accesskeys

#accesskeys{
margin: 0px;
padding: 0px;
height: 1px;
overflow: hidden;
}

Access key considerations

Standardised access keys can add value to a site. If they require additional learning by the user, they don't make sense though. Currently, access keys are controversial among experts and users. Already otherwise used key combinations often make access keys more of a problem than a solution.
The table at Aus der Tabelle bei www.einfach-fuer-alle.de demonstrates these various clashes in different browsers.
I will use a Accesskey [1] link on the home page of future projects. I'l also make the call project by project, depending on whether it makes sense.

Sample how to display access keys in links

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