Bypass Blocks
Success Criterion 2.4.1 (Level A)

Question

Is there a way for users to bypass content that is repeated on multiple web pages (e.g., setting controls, navigation areas, user menu, etc.)?

Why is this important

Websites often use links and blocks of content that are repeated at the beginning of multiple pages, such as navigation links, advertisement banners, and menus. Not providing a way to bypass this content is problematic for users of assistive technology that rely on keyboard navigation. This is due to the fact that keyboard only users must then tab through all the repeated content on every page they visit before reaching the main content on each page.

Whom does it benefit?

Example 1:

As a person who is blind,
I want a way to go directly to the main text on the page
so that I can read the text without having to spend time listening to all the navigation links.

Example 2:

As a person who is deaf/blind
I want to easily navigate to the beginning of the main text on the page I am reading
so that I can avoid having to spend time reading through all the navigation links and other content with my braille display.

Example 3:

As a person who has a mobility disability
I want to use minimal strokes with my keyboard
so that I can quickly get to the content I want to read.

What should you do?

  • Provide a way for assistive technology and keyboard users to skip repetitive navigation links and settings and go straight to the main content of the page.

How do you do it?

  • Add a link or button to the top of the page that allows users to navigate directly to the main content (e.g. “Skip to Main Content”).
  • Use collapsible/expandable navigation menus which allow users to bypass sections they don’t need to explore.
  • Add a link to the beginning of a block of repeated content that takes the user to the end of that block.

Need technical guidance?

Additional Resources to help you: