Should a Search Icon Inside a Search Bar Be Tabable?
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I'm developing a search bar. The input field and the icon are uniform in design, and thus a tabable icon feels superfluous because the default behaviour when pressing the enter key while the input field has focus is to submit the form. Hit tab>enter and you're achieving the exact same. However the icon is a clickable button, which I believe is a necessity. Should there be a 1:1 relationship between tabbing and clicking? Meaning if something is clickable, then it needs to be tabable?
Another challenge is the "X" left of the search icon, having the role of clearing the input. Because it has a behaviour different to the default one of the input field, I feel like it should be tabable. But at the moment it feels like I'm tabbing backwards when giving it focus. It also looks a little weird in its focused state.
Any input on this situation? Thanks.
forms buttons accessibility tab
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up vote
3
down vote
favorite
I'm developing a search bar. The input field and the icon are uniform in design, and thus a tabable icon feels superfluous because the default behaviour when pressing the enter key while the input field has focus is to submit the form. Hit tab>enter and you're achieving the exact same. However the icon is a clickable button, which I believe is a necessity. Should there be a 1:1 relationship between tabbing and clicking? Meaning if something is clickable, then it needs to be tabable?
Another challenge is the "X" left of the search icon, having the role of clearing the input. Because it has a behaviour different to the default one of the input field, I feel like it should be tabable. But at the moment it feels like I'm tabbing backwards when giving it focus. It also looks a little weird in its focused state.
Any input on this situation? Thanks.
forms buttons accessibility tab
New contributor
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
I'm developing a search bar. The input field and the icon are uniform in design, and thus a tabable icon feels superfluous because the default behaviour when pressing the enter key while the input field has focus is to submit the form. Hit tab>enter and you're achieving the exact same. However the icon is a clickable button, which I believe is a necessity. Should there be a 1:1 relationship between tabbing and clicking? Meaning if something is clickable, then it needs to be tabable?
Another challenge is the "X" left of the search icon, having the role of clearing the input. Because it has a behaviour different to the default one of the input field, I feel like it should be tabable. But at the moment it feels like I'm tabbing backwards when giving it focus. It also looks a little weird in its focused state.
Any input on this situation? Thanks.
forms buttons accessibility tab
New contributor
I'm developing a search bar. The input field and the icon are uniform in design, and thus a tabable icon feels superfluous because the default behaviour when pressing the enter key while the input field has focus is to submit the form. Hit tab>enter and you're achieving the exact same. However the icon is a clickable button, which I believe is a necessity. Should there be a 1:1 relationship between tabbing and clicking? Meaning if something is clickable, then it needs to be tabable?
Another challenge is the "X" left of the search icon, having the role of clearing the input. Because it has a behaviour different to the default one of the input field, I feel like it should be tabable. But at the moment it feels like I'm tabbing backwards when giving it focus. It also looks a little weird in its focused state.
Any input on this situation? Thanks.
forms buttons accessibility tab
forms buttons accessibility tab
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New contributor
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asked 4 hours ago
Audun Olsen
162
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4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
up vote
1
down vote
As a user I would expect, and I assume you're apply tab as a verb when you say
"tabbable," the search to be performed when I tapped or clicked the search icon or the control lost focus.
I would expect the clear button to require and physical tap to clear the input.
If you included the clear button in the tab list, it strikes me that it would become quite irritating and people would inadvertently delete their search term.
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
I think you should make a stance at this situation since both behaviors are valid. Ask yourself: Is this a behavior you'd like to encourage? Do you want your users to hit tab>enter, or simply hit enter?
I myself in favor of simply hitting enter, and not allowing tab>enter. Advanced users who use the keyboard will most probably hit enter, mouse users will probably too, but in case they don't you have the search button.
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
I would suggest making the search icon to be replaced by the X when a user searches. If the user presses the X button, the input is deselected and the X is replaced with the search icon again.
New contributor
I should've adressed this in my question. Yes, the X is great for clarity and disincentivizing searching for the exact same term. But I see great value in having both visible at the same time so a user does not have to spam backspace. E.G. I have a autocomplete dropdown, and if you key down you may get some long search terms placed in the input field, thus the value of a clear button if no suggestions satisfied the user.
â Audun Olsen
53 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Overview
You created this UI element to allow users to easily clear their search input criteria. In most cases users who use their keyboard to interact with the form will be choosing search button over the clear button as this is the primary action. By using keyboard navigation your first concern would be your indexing order, should clear come before search or not at all?
Tabable?
In my opinion good design is inclusive, some users may be using assistive technology. Removing clear from the index removes this feature from these users. That being said, yes you should make the clear button indexable.
Clear before search or search before clear?
It has become common place that to complete the primary action in a form you press Enter. In most cases users will expect that the tabbing order does not change from common designs (top to bottom, left to right. The user should tab into the input field, tab to access clear, and finally tab to access search. At anytime you can press enter to submit the search as long as your focus is in the form (input field).
Things to consider
- Information Architecture
Since "clear" is specific to this input field and not the form (even though the form only has one input field) it makes sense to put the clear button inside the input field (very common UI architecture Parent->child). However, the "Search" icon is your forms primary action. It makes more sense to put this outside of your input field. This will keep all forms following the same information architecture.
- Textual Call to action
If there is search results does "clear" also remove the results or just the input in the form? The "Close", "Delete", "Stop" icon is holistic and is not representative of exactly what the action is your trying to inform the users of. Consider removing this icon and just use text to tell users what this does. Perhaps use a tool tip, but don't forget to use alt=""
attribute for those on screen readers.
The same consideration could apply to the search call to action. Right now your using a label to inform us of the input fields action not what the input field is. However, you can achieve this by using "Search" as the action and not the label. This again will keep all forms following the same patterns and removes any ambiguity.
Since search is at the top of your site, users read top to bottom, left to right. AT the time of seeing this input field, they may have little context of what it does. Does this search products, contact info, blogs, search engines? Try to let your call to actions be clear and concise, for example "search products". If there is not a lot of room, you can use placeholder text to convey this to the users.
Never make the user think. "Don't make me think"
add a comment |Â
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
1
down vote
As a user I would expect, and I assume you're apply tab as a verb when you say
"tabbable," the search to be performed when I tapped or clicked the search icon or the control lost focus.
I would expect the clear button to require and physical tap to clear the input.
If you included the clear button in the tab list, it strikes me that it would become quite irritating and people would inadvertently delete their search term.
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
As a user I would expect, and I assume you're apply tab as a verb when you say
"tabbable," the search to be performed when I tapped or clicked the search icon or the control lost focus.
I would expect the clear button to require and physical tap to clear the input.
If you included the clear button in the tab list, it strikes me that it would become quite irritating and people would inadvertently delete their search term.
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
As a user I would expect, and I assume you're apply tab as a verb when you say
"tabbable," the search to be performed when I tapped or clicked the search icon or the control lost focus.
I would expect the clear button to require and physical tap to clear the input.
If you included the clear button in the tab list, it strikes me that it would become quite irritating and people would inadvertently delete their search term.
As a user I would expect, and I assume you're apply tab as a verb when you say
"tabbable," the search to be performed when I tapped or clicked the search icon or the control lost focus.
I would expect the clear button to require and physical tap to clear the input.
If you included the clear button in the tab list, it strikes me that it would become quite irritating and people would inadvertently delete their search term.
answered 4 hours ago
DarrylGodden
4,771930
4,771930
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
I think you should make a stance at this situation since both behaviors are valid. Ask yourself: Is this a behavior you'd like to encourage? Do you want your users to hit tab>enter, or simply hit enter?
I myself in favor of simply hitting enter, and not allowing tab>enter. Advanced users who use the keyboard will most probably hit enter, mouse users will probably too, but in case they don't you have the search button.
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
I think you should make a stance at this situation since both behaviors are valid. Ask yourself: Is this a behavior you'd like to encourage? Do you want your users to hit tab>enter, or simply hit enter?
I myself in favor of simply hitting enter, and not allowing tab>enter. Advanced users who use the keyboard will most probably hit enter, mouse users will probably too, but in case they don't you have the search button.
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
I think you should make a stance at this situation since both behaviors are valid. Ask yourself: Is this a behavior you'd like to encourage? Do you want your users to hit tab>enter, or simply hit enter?
I myself in favor of simply hitting enter, and not allowing tab>enter. Advanced users who use the keyboard will most probably hit enter, mouse users will probably too, but in case they don't you have the search button.
I think you should make a stance at this situation since both behaviors are valid. Ask yourself: Is this a behavior you'd like to encourage? Do you want your users to hit tab>enter, or simply hit enter?
I myself in favor of simply hitting enter, and not allowing tab>enter. Advanced users who use the keyboard will most probably hit enter, mouse users will probably too, but in case they don't you have the search button.
answered 3 hours ago
VitskyDS
634
634
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
I would suggest making the search icon to be replaced by the X when a user searches. If the user presses the X button, the input is deselected and the X is replaced with the search icon again.
New contributor
I should've adressed this in my question. Yes, the X is great for clarity and disincentivizing searching for the exact same term. But I see great value in having both visible at the same time so a user does not have to spam backspace. E.G. I have a autocomplete dropdown, and if you key down you may get some long search terms placed in the input field, thus the value of a clear button if no suggestions satisfied the user.
â Audun Olsen
53 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
I would suggest making the search icon to be replaced by the X when a user searches. If the user presses the X button, the input is deselected and the X is replaced with the search icon again.
New contributor
I should've adressed this in my question. Yes, the X is great for clarity and disincentivizing searching for the exact same term. But I see great value in having both visible at the same time so a user does not have to spam backspace. E.G. I have a autocomplete dropdown, and if you key down you may get some long search terms placed in the input field, thus the value of a clear button if no suggestions satisfied the user.
â Audun Olsen
53 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
I would suggest making the search icon to be replaced by the X when a user searches. If the user presses the X button, the input is deselected and the X is replaced with the search icon again.
New contributor
I would suggest making the search icon to be replaced by the X when a user searches. If the user presses the X button, the input is deselected and the X is replaced with the search icon again.
New contributor
New contributor
answered 3 hours ago
Zasul
566
566
New contributor
New contributor
I should've adressed this in my question. Yes, the X is great for clarity and disincentivizing searching for the exact same term. But I see great value in having both visible at the same time so a user does not have to spam backspace. E.G. I have a autocomplete dropdown, and if you key down you may get some long search terms placed in the input field, thus the value of a clear button if no suggestions satisfied the user.
â Audun Olsen
53 mins ago
add a comment |Â
I should've adressed this in my question. Yes, the X is great for clarity and disincentivizing searching for the exact same term. But I see great value in having both visible at the same time so a user does not have to spam backspace. E.G. I have a autocomplete dropdown, and if you key down you may get some long search terms placed in the input field, thus the value of a clear button if no suggestions satisfied the user.
â Audun Olsen
53 mins ago
I should've adressed this in my question. Yes, the X is great for clarity and disincentivizing searching for the exact same term. But I see great value in having both visible at the same time so a user does not have to spam backspace. E.G. I have a autocomplete dropdown, and if you key down you may get some long search terms placed in the input field, thus the value of a clear button if no suggestions satisfied the user.
â Audun Olsen
53 mins ago
I should've adressed this in my question. Yes, the X is great for clarity and disincentivizing searching for the exact same term. But I see great value in having both visible at the same time so a user does not have to spam backspace. E.G. I have a autocomplete dropdown, and if you key down you may get some long search terms placed in the input field, thus the value of a clear button if no suggestions satisfied the user.
â Audun Olsen
53 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Overview
You created this UI element to allow users to easily clear their search input criteria. In most cases users who use their keyboard to interact with the form will be choosing search button over the clear button as this is the primary action. By using keyboard navigation your first concern would be your indexing order, should clear come before search or not at all?
Tabable?
In my opinion good design is inclusive, some users may be using assistive technology. Removing clear from the index removes this feature from these users. That being said, yes you should make the clear button indexable.
Clear before search or search before clear?
It has become common place that to complete the primary action in a form you press Enter. In most cases users will expect that the tabbing order does not change from common designs (top to bottom, left to right. The user should tab into the input field, tab to access clear, and finally tab to access search. At anytime you can press enter to submit the search as long as your focus is in the form (input field).
Things to consider
- Information Architecture
Since "clear" is specific to this input field and not the form (even though the form only has one input field) it makes sense to put the clear button inside the input field (very common UI architecture Parent->child). However, the "Search" icon is your forms primary action. It makes more sense to put this outside of your input field. This will keep all forms following the same information architecture.
- Textual Call to action
If there is search results does "clear" also remove the results or just the input in the form? The "Close", "Delete", "Stop" icon is holistic and is not representative of exactly what the action is your trying to inform the users of. Consider removing this icon and just use text to tell users what this does. Perhaps use a tool tip, but don't forget to use alt=""
attribute for those on screen readers.
The same consideration could apply to the search call to action. Right now your using a label to inform us of the input fields action not what the input field is. However, you can achieve this by using "Search" as the action and not the label. This again will keep all forms following the same patterns and removes any ambiguity.
Since search is at the top of your site, users read top to bottom, left to right. AT the time of seeing this input field, they may have little context of what it does. Does this search products, contact info, blogs, search engines? Try to let your call to actions be clear and concise, for example "search products". If there is not a lot of room, you can use placeholder text to convey this to the users.
Never make the user think. "Don't make me think"
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Overview
You created this UI element to allow users to easily clear their search input criteria. In most cases users who use their keyboard to interact with the form will be choosing search button over the clear button as this is the primary action. By using keyboard navigation your first concern would be your indexing order, should clear come before search or not at all?
Tabable?
In my opinion good design is inclusive, some users may be using assistive technology. Removing clear from the index removes this feature from these users. That being said, yes you should make the clear button indexable.
Clear before search or search before clear?
It has become common place that to complete the primary action in a form you press Enter. In most cases users will expect that the tabbing order does not change from common designs (top to bottom, left to right. The user should tab into the input field, tab to access clear, and finally tab to access search. At anytime you can press enter to submit the search as long as your focus is in the form (input field).
Things to consider
- Information Architecture
Since "clear" is specific to this input field and not the form (even though the form only has one input field) it makes sense to put the clear button inside the input field (very common UI architecture Parent->child). However, the "Search" icon is your forms primary action. It makes more sense to put this outside of your input field. This will keep all forms following the same information architecture.
- Textual Call to action
If there is search results does "clear" also remove the results or just the input in the form? The "Close", "Delete", "Stop" icon is holistic and is not representative of exactly what the action is your trying to inform the users of. Consider removing this icon and just use text to tell users what this does. Perhaps use a tool tip, but don't forget to use alt=""
attribute for those on screen readers.
The same consideration could apply to the search call to action. Right now your using a label to inform us of the input fields action not what the input field is. However, you can achieve this by using "Search" as the action and not the label. This again will keep all forms following the same patterns and removes any ambiguity.
Since search is at the top of your site, users read top to bottom, left to right. AT the time of seeing this input field, they may have little context of what it does. Does this search products, contact info, blogs, search engines? Try to let your call to actions be clear and concise, for example "search products". If there is not a lot of room, you can use placeholder text to convey this to the users.
Never make the user think. "Don't make me think"
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
Overview
You created this UI element to allow users to easily clear their search input criteria. In most cases users who use their keyboard to interact with the form will be choosing search button over the clear button as this is the primary action. By using keyboard navigation your first concern would be your indexing order, should clear come before search or not at all?
Tabable?
In my opinion good design is inclusive, some users may be using assistive technology. Removing clear from the index removes this feature from these users. That being said, yes you should make the clear button indexable.
Clear before search or search before clear?
It has become common place that to complete the primary action in a form you press Enter. In most cases users will expect that the tabbing order does not change from common designs (top to bottom, left to right. The user should tab into the input field, tab to access clear, and finally tab to access search. At anytime you can press enter to submit the search as long as your focus is in the form (input field).
Things to consider
- Information Architecture
Since "clear" is specific to this input field and not the form (even though the form only has one input field) it makes sense to put the clear button inside the input field (very common UI architecture Parent->child). However, the "Search" icon is your forms primary action. It makes more sense to put this outside of your input field. This will keep all forms following the same information architecture.
- Textual Call to action
If there is search results does "clear" also remove the results or just the input in the form? The "Close", "Delete", "Stop" icon is holistic and is not representative of exactly what the action is your trying to inform the users of. Consider removing this icon and just use text to tell users what this does. Perhaps use a tool tip, but don't forget to use alt=""
attribute for those on screen readers.
The same consideration could apply to the search call to action. Right now your using a label to inform us of the input fields action not what the input field is. However, you can achieve this by using "Search" as the action and not the label. This again will keep all forms following the same patterns and removes any ambiguity.
Since search is at the top of your site, users read top to bottom, left to right. AT the time of seeing this input field, they may have little context of what it does. Does this search products, contact info, blogs, search engines? Try to let your call to actions be clear and concise, for example "search products". If there is not a lot of room, you can use placeholder text to convey this to the users.
Never make the user think. "Don't make me think"
Overview
You created this UI element to allow users to easily clear their search input criteria. In most cases users who use their keyboard to interact with the form will be choosing search button over the clear button as this is the primary action. By using keyboard navigation your first concern would be your indexing order, should clear come before search or not at all?
Tabable?
In my opinion good design is inclusive, some users may be using assistive technology. Removing clear from the index removes this feature from these users. That being said, yes you should make the clear button indexable.
Clear before search or search before clear?
It has become common place that to complete the primary action in a form you press Enter. In most cases users will expect that the tabbing order does not change from common designs (top to bottom, left to right. The user should tab into the input field, tab to access clear, and finally tab to access search. At anytime you can press enter to submit the search as long as your focus is in the form (input field).
Things to consider
- Information Architecture
Since "clear" is specific to this input field and not the form (even though the form only has one input field) it makes sense to put the clear button inside the input field (very common UI architecture Parent->child). However, the "Search" icon is your forms primary action. It makes more sense to put this outside of your input field. This will keep all forms following the same information architecture.
- Textual Call to action
If there is search results does "clear" also remove the results or just the input in the form? The "Close", "Delete", "Stop" icon is holistic and is not representative of exactly what the action is your trying to inform the users of. Consider removing this icon and just use text to tell users what this does. Perhaps use a tool tip, but don't forget to use alt=""
attribute for those on screen readers.
The same consideration could apply to the search call to action. Right now your using a label to inform us of the input fields action not what the input field is. However, you can achieve this by using "Search" as the action and not the label. This again will keep all forms following the same patterns and removes any ambiguity.
Since search is at the top of your site, users read top to bottom, left to right. AT the time of seeing this input field, they may have little context of what it does. Does this search products, contact info, blogs, search engines? Try to let your call to actions be clear and concise, for example "search products". If there is not a lot of room, you can use placeholder text to convey this to the users.
Never make the user think. "Don't make me think"
answered 3 hours ago
Bromox
1466
1466
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Audun Olsen is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Audun Olsen is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Audun Olsen is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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