WEBSITE PLANNING

Test a Business Website Without a Mouse

Record keyboard focus, menu behavior and the path to an inquiry in a repeatable website navigation test.

Choose one complete journey

Start at the homepage with the mouse set aside. Use Tab to move between controls and Shift+Tab to go backward. Record where focus appears and whether its position is visible. Pick a real task, such as finding package information and reaching the quote form, instead of randomly pressing keys on every page. Stop before sending an inquiry; a review can identify navigation barriers without creating a false lead.

Keep a sequence log

Write each step as expected control, actual control, key pressed and outcome. A hypothetical failure might be that focus enters the menu but never reaches the service links. Another is that a dialog closes visually while keyboard focus remains behind it. Give the developer the sequence and browser version so the behavior can be reproduced. Do not call the whole site accessible because one path worked.

Set the repair boundary

Ask for the specific task to be completable in a sensible order with visible focus. Include opening and closing any overlays involved. Check the same path after the fix and then a neighboring page that shares the component. Keyboard testing is one part of a broader accessibility review; semantic structure and assistive-technology behavior need separate attention.

Reference and next step

Reference: W3C page structure tutorial. For help reviewing a specific implementation, send the affected website address and describe the task customers are trying to finish.