


How do I use the tabindex attribute to control the tab order of elements?
Jun 24, 2025 am 12:56 AMThe tabindex attribute controls how elements receive focus via the Tab key, with three main values: tabindex="0" adds an element to the natural tab order, tabindex="-1" allows programmatic focus only, and tabindex="n" (positive number) sets a custom tabbing sequence. 1. Use tabindex="0" to make custom interactive elements keyboard accessible without disrupting the natural flow. 2. Avoid positive values unless absolutely necessary, as they can confuse users, especially those using screen readers. 3. Combine tabindex with ARIA roles and proper keyboard event handling to ensure full accessibility. Always test with assistive technologies to confirm usability.
If you want users to navigate your website using the Tab key in a logical, accessible way, the tabindex
attribute is one of the tools you can use to control that flow. It’s especially useful when you’re working with custom interactive elements or trying to fix tabbing issues in complex layouts.
What tabindex
Does and How to Use It
The tabindex
attribute lets you specify whether an element should be focusable and what order it should appear in when the user navigates using the Tab key. There are three main values it can take:
-
tabindex="0"
: Makes the element focusable in the natural tab order (based on where it appears in the DOM). -
tabindex="-1"
: Makes the element focusable only via JavaScript (like through.focus()
), not through tabbing. -
tabindex="n"
(where n is a positive number): Adds the element into the tab sequence at the specified position. Elements with lower numbers come first.
For example, if you have a Using positive Here's why: So unless you have a very specific reason — like a guided form wizard with a strict step-by-step interface — it's better to rely on HTML structure and use One of the most common real-world uses of Let’s say you have a custom tab component: By setting Don’t forget: just because something is focusable doesn't mean it's usable. Always test with a keyboard and screen reader if possible. That’s basically how you work with tabindex="0"
allows it to receive keyboard focus.When to Use Positive Tabindex Values
tabindex
values (like 1, 2, 3) forces the browser to follow a specific tabbing sequence regardless of the page structure. While this might seem helpful for controlling navigation flow, it's generally discouraged because it can easily confuse users — especially those relying on screen readers.
tabindex="0"
instead.Making Custom Components Accessible
tabindex
is making non-focusable elements (like <div>s or <code><span></span>
s) keyboard accessible when they function as buttons, tabs, or dropdown triggers.<div class="tab" role="tab" tabindex="0">Tab 1</div>
tabindex="0"
, users can now tab to it and activate it with Enter or Space. You’ll also need to add ARIA roles and handle keyboard events (like Enter triggering an action), but tabindex
gets it into the tab flow.
tabindex
. It gives you control over focus behavior, but it's easy to misuse. Keep things simple, stick to semantic HTML when possible, and only reach for tabindex="0"
when necessary.
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