Clickable elements below the fold in Safari

[colebemis]

Problem

In macOS Safari, clicking links below the fold inside the FocusLock component causes focus to jump to the first link instead of going the destination of the link.

Here's a codesandbox that reproduces the issue: https://codesandbox.io/s/responsive-navigation-safari-bug-6hvj4

Notes

• Removing the FocusLock component from the Drawer component fixes this issue.

• Removing tabIndex="-1" from the wrapper div created by @reach/router also fixes this issue:

  

Related to https://github.com/primer/doctocat/issues/56

[theKashey]

focus-lock has the following logic - if the "distance" between last focused component and the current one is "more" than 1 - move focus back to the last.

And exactly this moment is not working. Let's try to find out why

[theKashey]

It seems to me - this is a pure Safari issue - https://codesandbox.io/s/responsive-navigation-safari-bug-jjf1m - clicking on the button does not select it, it focuses on the parent div.

[theKashey]

https://codesandbox.io/s/responsive-navigation-safari-bug-jjf1m - for now the only way to fix Safari behaviour is to apply focus by yourself

// help browser to focus element you just clicked
document.addEventListener(
  "click",
  event => {
    event.target.focus();
  },
  true // to be confirmed, probably overpower.
);

[theKashey]

Ok, here is documentation - https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/button#Clicking_and_focus

Does clicking on a give it focus?

No (even with a tabindex)

Does tapping on a give it focus?

No (even with a tabindex)

---

So the only ways to fix the problem (for now) are:

• don't use tabIndex on the parent, so it would not be focused, and focus would not be activated.
• whitelist parental focus, ie allow it
• using event handlers focus buttons and links munually, however it does not working really well, and breaking default browser behavior.

So - look like the only valid way, but still not quite cool, is .2 - https://codesandbox.io/s/responsive-navigation-safari-bug-wnwv3 the problem - no "focus guards" around that parent, so you might "tabout" it, thus escape the lock.

[colebemis]

@theKashey Thank you so much for the quick response! Approach #2 seems like the most reasonable solution. I'll give it a shot 😄

[theKashey]

You know - try to combine .2 with that "click-focus" hack I've posted above. You still need to focus the element somehow, or background element will retain the focus.

[gersomvg]

I had the same issue and solved it this way (found this solution by someone else):

const focusLockWhiteList = el => !(el.getAttribute('role') === 'dialog' && el.tabIndex === -1);

<FocusLock whiteList={focusLockWhiteList}>

[colebemis]

@theKashey Is there a way to use the "whitelist" approach in react-focus-on? It doesn't look like FocusOn exposes a whitelist prop

[theKashey]

I am not sure it's the right solution for a problem.

Actually, I am thinking about a better approach:

// help browser to focus element you just clicked
document.addEventListener(
  "focus",
  event => {
    if(eventTargetContainsFocusLock) { 
      event.preventDefault(); // don't let focus to be set "trought" focus lock.
    }
  },
  true,
);

In the same time - there is already such logic - https://github.com/theKashey/react-focus-lock/blob/master/src/Trap.js#L121-L159

The problem:

without whitelist

• the original event would be prevented, but focused element would be changed (this issue)

with white list

• the original event would pass thought, focus lock will ignore focus change (that's not a solution)

what shall be done

• the original even should be suspended.

where? Or what is causing the initial issue

• focus-lock is enumerating all focusables and act depending on their relative positions.
• the distance between last element and the new is too "far", thus focus lock is activating the first element
• 😎focus lock shall threat "parents" in a different way. If the focus is received at parent - we shall bring it back to the last focusable element.

So - the real problem is assumtion that the "focus order" does not include your own parent. And it does not almost in all cases, except reach-router.

I think this is what shall be changed.

[theKashey]

Ok ^^^ that did not work. I could not preserve "focused elements" as long as they are not focusable in Safari. But I've found a solution.

https://codesandbox.io/s/responsive-navigation-safari-bug-kblg2

 <div
// remove mouse down propagation from the lock
  onMouseDown={e => e.preventDefault()}
// restore just lost "default" behaviour
  onClick={e => e.target.focus()}
>
  <FocusLock>
    ....

I would gently ask you to test this solution:

• wrap with onMouseDown suspender
• compensate suspension with onClick handler

[colebemis]

I would gently ask you to test this solution:

• wrap with onMouseDown suspender
• compensate suspension with onClick handler

Clicking on links below the fold works with this approach! But now tabbing and hitting enter/space doesn't work on any browser 😢 Any ideas how to fix that?

[theKashey]

Please double check - running the provided example in Chrome and Safari - everything works as it should.

[colebemis]

Oof, my bad. I was expecting the space key to work on links like it does on buttons 🤦‍♂

Your solution works great. Thank you!

[theKashey]

Let's keep it open unless it's properly documented, or even implemented on the focus lock side.

[theKashey]

https://zellwk.com/blog/inconsistent-button-behavior/

Proposed in that article fix is the same I've tried before

document.addEventListener('click', event => {
  if (event.target.matches('button') {
    event.target.focus()
  }
})

In other words - we could recomend using this hack more widely.

[SMccarrick]

I've come across an issue regarding this fix

 <div
// remove mouse down propagation from the lock
  onMouseDown={e => e.preventDefault()}
// restore just lost "default" behaviour
  onClick={e => e.target.focus()}
>
  <FocusLock>
    ....

So I added this fix to the parent div but the issue I was having was that e.preventDefault() was bubbling down to native form elements and causing them to not perform there default actions such as a select field showing its options onClick.

I tried to implement this fix but no dice

 <div
// remove mouse down propagation from the lock
  onMouseDown={e => e.preventDefault()}
// restore just lost "default" behaviour
  onClick={e => {
    if (e.target !== e.currentTarget){
      return
    }
    e.target.focus()
 }}
>
  <FocusLock>
    ....

[theKashey]

The only "working" solution, as described above

• list target div in shards, ie allow it to be focused
• or use white list to "hide" it
• or use className to "hide" it
• or "prevent default", which breaks more than it fixes.

No real solution today :(

Except for the way adopted by reakit - DON'T USE "BUTTONS" - see https://twitter.com/diegohaz/status/1176998100495491072

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