OutlineSuppression [anti-pattern] v1.0.0

The practice of suppressing browser-default focus outlines globally via CSS resets (* { outline: none } or a:focus { outline: 0 }) without providing custom focus indicators. This remains one of the most common WCAG failures on the web despite being trivially detectable and fixable.

Label

Global Focus Outline Suppression

Trap

Many CSS resets (including older versions of Normalize.css and custom resets) included blanket outline removal as 'cleanup'. Developers copy these resets without understanding the accessibility implications. The visual motivation — removing the blue browser ring on mouse click — is legitimate, but the solution is wrong.

Counter Examples

• @community/counter-example-outline-none

Detection

@community/check-focus-visible

Detection Heuristics

• CSS contains outline: none, outline: 0, or outline: initial in a rule targeting :focus without a corresponding custom indicator
• axe-core rule scrollable-region-focusable or focus-trap fires
• Lighthouse accessibility audit reports [tabindex]:not(:focus-visible)
• Tab-navigate the page: focused elements have no visible indicator

Remediation

• Replace *:focus { outline: none } with *:focus:not(:focus-visible) { outline: none } — this preserves keyboard rings while removing mouse-click rings.
• Add global :focus-visible { outline: 2px solid currentColor; outline-offset: 2px; } as the base style.
• Use @community/value-focus-outline-width (2px) as the standard outline width.
• For custom components, apply per-component :focus-visible styles that match the component's visual design.

Severity

critical

OutlineSuppression [anti-pattern] v1.0.0

The practice of suppressing browser-default focus outlines globally via CSS resets (* { outline: none } or a:focus { outline: 0 }) without providing custom focus indicators. This remains one of the most common WCAG failures on the web despite being trivially detectable and fixable.

Label

Global Focus Outline Suppression

Trap

Many CSS resets (including older versions of Normalize.css and custom resets) included blanket outline removal as 'cleanup'. Developers copy these resets without understanding the accessibility implications. The visual motivation — removing the blue browser ring on mouse click — is legitimate, but the solution is wrong.

Counter Examples

• @community/counter-example-outline-none

Detection

@community/check-focus-visible

Detection Heuristics

• CSS contains outline: none, outline: 0, or outline: initial in a rule targeting :focus without a corresponding custom indicator
• axe-core rule scrollable-region-focusable or focus-trap fires
• Lighthouse accessibility audit reports [tabindex]:not(:focus-visible)
• Tab-navigate the page: focused elements have no visible indicator

Remediation

• Replace *:focus { outline: none } with *:focus:not(:focus-visible) { outline: none } — this preserves keyboard rings while removing mouse-click rings.
• Add global :focus-visible { outline: 2px solid currentColor; outline-offset: 2px; } as the base style.
• Use @community/value-focus-outline-width (2px) as the standard outline width.
• For custom components, apply per-component :focus-visible styles that match the component's visual design.

Severity

critical

Label

Global Focus Outline Suppression

Trap

Many CSS resets (including older versions of Normalize.css and custom resets) included blanket outline removal as 'cleanup'. Developers copy these resets without understanding the accessibility implications. The visual motivation — removing the blue browser ring on mouse click — is legitimate, but the solution is wrong.

Counter Examples

• @community/counter-example-outline-none

Detection

@community/check-focus-visible

Detection Heuristics

• CSS contains outline: none, outline: 0, or outline: initial in a rule targeting :focus without a corresponding custom indicator
• axe-core rule scrollable-region-focusable or focus-trap fires
• Lighthouse accessibility audit reports [tabindex]:not(:focus-visible)
• Tab-navigate the page: focused elements have no visible indicator

Remediation

• Replace *:focus { outline: none } with *:focus:not(:focus-visible) { outline: none } — this preserves keyboard rings while removing mouse-click rings.
• Add global :focus-visible { outline: 2px solid currentColor; outline-offset: 2px; } as the base style.
• Use @community/value-focus-outline-width (2px) as the standard outline width.
• For custom components, apply per-component :focus-visible styles that match the component's visual design.

Severity

critical