Frequently Asked Questions

Headings and Landmark Regions

What are Headings?
Headings are used to add structure to content and should describe the content in the next section or sub-section on the page.
There are six levels of headings (e.g. h1-h6 elements) in HTML to identify sub-sections in hierarchical content.
Web browsers, plug-ins, and assistive technologies can use them to provide in-page navigation.
SkipTo.js provides a means for everyone to use keyboard navigation to navigate to headings on page.
What are Landmark Regions?
Landmark Regions identify the major sections of a page that is usually conveyed visually with placement, spacing, color, or borders.
Landmark regions enable assistive technology users to perceive the start and end of each section of a web page.
There are eight types of landmark regions used to identify content on a page: Banner, Complementary, Contentinfo, Form, Main, Navigation, Region and Search.
SkipTo.js provides a means for everyone to use keyboard navigation to navigate to landmark regions on page.

"Skip To Content" Button and Menu

Does the "Skip To Content" button always have to be visible when a web page opens?
The page-script and extension versions have configuration options to hide the button when the page loads.
The bookmarklets have separate link to demonstrate the configuration option for hiding the button when the page loads.
When the button is initially hidden it will be the first tab stop on the page, or can be opened at any time using the shortcut key (Alt+0 or Option+0).
Can the auto-scrolling feature be disabled?
The auto-scrolling feature is disabled if the operating system reduced motion setting is enabled by the user.
Authorscan use configuration options for the page-script to disable auto-scrolling for a web page.
Users can use configuration options for the browser extensions to disable auto-scrolling.
Why are not all of the landmark regions on the page included in the menu?
The default setting include the complementary, main, navigation and search landmark regions.
In the browser extensions users can set options to choose which landmark regions are included in the menu, including banner, contentinfo, region and form.
By default the order of the landmark regions in the menu are for importance of keyboard navigation: main, search, navigation and complementary. In the browser extensions the user can specify to show the landmarks in document order.
Authors can use configuration options in the page-script for setting the headings and landmark regions in the menu.
Why are the landmark regions in the menu not in the order of how they appear on the page?
By default the order of the landmark regions in the menu are for importance of keyboard navigation: main, search, navigation and complementary.
In the browser extensions the user can specify to show the landmarks in document order.
Why are not all of the headings on the page are included in the menu?
The default setting include first and second level headings (e.g. h1 and h2 elements).
In the options setting you can choose which headings are included in the menu .
In the browser extensions users can set options to choose which headings are included in the menu (e.g. h1, h2, h3, h4, h5 and h6 elements).
Authors can use configuration options in the page-script for setting the headings and landmark regions in the menu.
What does "Headings in Main mean?
The list of headings in the menu can be from the entire web page or limited to the headings within the main landamrk.
When the list of headings is limited to headings within the main landmark, the heading group label is "Headings in Main.
When there are no headings found in the main landmark, any headings found in the web page will be included in the menu.
When using a browser extension, users can choose to use the only in main option.
What do the numbers before heading names mean?
The numbers before the heading name identify the level of the heading.
Web pages can have up to six levels of headings (e.g. h1-h6 elements). Level 2 headings should be used as sub-sections of level 1 headings, level 3 headings should be used as sub-sections of level 2 headings and so on for the remaining heading levels.

Shortcuts

What does the hidden heading message mean in sequential navigation?
Some section headings (i.e. h1-h6 elements) are added to web pages in a way that only people using screen readers can "see" them.
Hidden headings are not visible in the graphical rendering of the page, but are visible to people using screen readers.
Why when I am in a search box or other text form control the sequential navigation keys don't work?
When keyboard focus is in a search box or other area of a web page that can accept text input the sequential shortcut keys are disabled.
The shortcuts are disabled to ensure the user can complete any forms or input associated with the web page.
Use the Tab key to move focus to a link or button and the shortcuts will again be enabled.

Other Issues

What happens with the bookmarklets or the extension are used on pages using the SkipTo.js page-script?
The extension and bookmarklets automatically unload any existing copies of SkipTo.js.

Feedback and Reporting Issues

We welcome your feedback! Please do not hesitate to raise issues and comment on Github if something doesn’t work or you have ideas on how to improve SkipTo.js.

Happy skipping!