spec checked
WAI-ARIA Authoring Practices Guide
Defines accessible interaction patterns, roles, states, properties, and keyboard behavior for common web widgets.
Pattern Decisions This Source Supports
| Pattern | Supported decision | Required contract | Claim note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autocomplete | Choose autocomplete for constrained or semi-constrained values. | Typed text remains under user control. | APG combobox guidance defines autocomplete popup behavior and keyboard expectations. |
| Basic search | Choose basic search when the task is content retrieval. | Typing or submitting a query changes the visible result set predictably. | APG landmark guidance supports exposing search as a named search region. |
| Button group | Choose a button group when two to four actions are contextually related and should be considered together at one workflow moment. | Each button performs a command immediately or starts a named flow; buttons in the group do not represent persistent selected values unless the component is intentionally a segmented or toggle group. | APG button guidance distinguishes command buttons from toggle buttons with aria-pressed and documents disabled action state. |
| Command palette | Choose a command palette when users need to run commands or jump across destinations faster than the visible navigation allows. | Opening the palette moves focus to the command input. | APG dialog and listbox patterns define focus, Escape, active option, and semantic requirements used by accessible palette implementations. |
| Icon-only ambiguous action | Flag this anti-pattern when the icon meaning is not clear from the visible label, surrounding row, action group, and product convention. | The visual control, accessible name, and action result use the same verb and object. | WAI-ARIA APG button guidance covers button naming, states, and standard keyboard activation behavior. |
| Search suggestions | Choose suggestions when guidance improves query formulation. | Suggestions update from the current input without replacing it unexpectedly. | APG combobox guidance covers popup suggestions and keyboard operation. |
| Typeahead | Choose typeahead when live result hits should appear as the user types and the result set can update safely before explicit submit. | Typing changes the query and schedules live lookup only when the minimum length and privacy rules allow it. | WAI-ARIA APG provides accessible popup and keyboard expectations relevant to typeahead panels. |
Evidence Role
This source is treated as spec evidence. Use it to validate the decision rules above, not as a visual style reference.
Publisher: W3C Web Accessibility Initiative. Last checked: .