Modal Dialog Accessibility Issues - Focus Trap Not Working
Modal dialogs aren't accessible. Users can tab to elements behind the modal, keyboard focus isn't trapped, or screen readers don't announce the modal.
Accessibility testing tools flag issues with focus management and ARIA attributes.
Error Messages You Might See
Common Causes
- No focus trap - focus can escape to background content
- Missing dialog role or aria-modal attribute
- ESC key doesn't close modal
- No aria-labelledby or aria-describedby
- Background content not marked inert
How to Fix It
Use accessible modal library: react-modal, headless-ui, or radix-ui Dialog
Or implement: focus-trap package for managing focus
Add attributes: role='dialog' aria-modal='true' aria-labelledby='title'
Close on ESC: window.addEventListener('keydown', e => e.key === 'Escape' && closeModal())
Mark background inert:
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Get HelpFrequently Asked Questions
What should I use for modals?
Headless UI Dialog, Radix Dialog, or react-modal. These handle accessibility correctly
How do I trap focus in modal?
Use focus-trap library or: track focus, when focus reaches last element, move to first (and vice versa)
What ARIA attributes for modal?
role='dialog' aria-modal='true' aria-labelledby='title-id' aria-describedby='desc-id'