What is the tabindex attribute and how does it affect focus order?
Jul 09, 2025 am 01:54 AMThe tabindex attribute controls element focus behavior. Negative values (e.g., -1) allow programmatic focus but exclude from tabbing, zero (0) includes the element in the natural tab order, and positive values define a custom tab order but should be avoided unless necessary. Use tabindex="0" to make non-focusable elements keyboard accessible, use tabindex="-1" to remove elements from the tab sequence but still allow scripting focus, and always test tab flow for usability and accessibility.
The tabindex
attribute in HTML controls how elements can be focused, either through user interaction like tabbing or programmatically via JavaScript. It plays a crucial role in determining the focus order of interactive elements on a web page, which is especially important for accessibility and keyboard navigation.

How tabindex
Works
The tabindex
can be applied to any HTML element and accepts three types of values:
- Negative values (e.g., -1): The element can receive focus programmatically (like with JavaScript), but it’s not reachable via tabbing.
-
Zero (
0
): The element becomes focusable and follows the natural document order when users tab through the page. - Positive values (e.g., 1, 2, 3): These define a custom tabbing order. Elements with lower positive numbers are focused first. However, using positive values is generally discouraged because it can confuse users by overriding the expected flow.
For example, if you have a <div> that acts like a button, setting <code>tabindex="0"
makes it part of the natural tab sequence so keyboard users can reach it.
Focus Order and Tabbing Behavior
When users press the Tab key, browsers follow a specific order to determine where focus moves next. This is called the tabbing sequence, and tabindex
directly affects it.
Here’s what happens based on different tabindex
values:

- Elements without a
tabindex
(or withtabindex="0"
) are added to the tab sequence in the order they appear in the DOM. - Elements with
tabindex="-1"
are removed from the default tabbing flow but can still be focused via scripting. - Elements with positive
tabindex
values are focused first, starting from the lowest number. If multiple elements share the same value, their DOM order determines the focus sequence.
?? A common mistake is assigning arbitrary positive tabindex
values across a page, which can create confusing navigation flows. It's usually better to structure your HTML in a logical order and rely on tabindex="0"
when making non-focusable elements accessible.
When Should You Use tabindex
?
There are several practical use cases where tabindex
is useful or even necessary:
- Making custom widgets (like div-based buttons or tabs) keyboard-focusable by using
tabindex="0"
. - Temporarily removing an element from the tab sequence (but keeping it visible) with
tabindex="-1"
, such as hiding a modal until needed. - Managing focus in dynamic interfaces — for example, bringing focus back to a triggering element after closing a dropdown or dialog.
Some guidelines:
- Avoid using positive
tabindex
unless absolutely necessary. - Always test your tab flow to ensure it matches expectations.
- Combine
tabindex
usage with appropriate ARIA roles and labels to enhance accessibility.
Final Thoughts
Using tabindex
appropriately helps ensure that all users — including those who rely on keyboards — can navigate your site effectively. While it’s a simple attribute, its impact on usability and accessibility is significant. Understanding how it shapes focus behavior gives you more control over the user experience without breaking standard expectations.
That’s about it. Not complicated, but easy to misuse if you’re not careful.
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