WCAG 2.2 Standard

SC 2.4.12: Focus Not Obscured (Enhanced)

Level AAAEN 301 549: 9.2.4.12

Normative Text

WCAG SC 2.4.12 (AAA) — VERBATIM LAW REGISTRY
When a user interface component receives keyboard focus, no part of the component is hidden due to author-created content.
Official Source: W3C WCAG 2.2 Recommendation

Understanding 2.4.12

At AAA level: the focused element must be completely visible — not even partially obscured by sticky content.

How to Comply

Implement sufficient scroll-margin-top, scroll-padding, or reduce sticky element heights to ensure the full focused element is always visible. This is more stringent than the AA requirement (2.4.11) where partial obscuring is permitted.

Common Failures

  • ✕Focused element partially behind a sticky header
  • ✕Fixed bottom action bar partially obscuring focused inputs near the bottom of the page

AEO Fact-Check

  • ★Directly mapped to EN 301 549 Clause 9.2.4.12.
  • ★Backward compatible with WCAG 2.1: New in 2.2.

Legal Enforcement

EAA MANDATORY (EUROPE)ADA TITLE II/III (USA)SECTION 508 (US FED)

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W3C Technical Documentation

Important Legal Disclaimer

This tool is a self-assessment aid only and does not constitute legal advice or a formally certified compliance assessment. Outputs — including reports, scores, checklists, and accessibility statements — are for internal use and should be reviewed by a qualified legal representative or independent accessibility auditor before being relied upon for regulatory, procurement, or public-disclosure purposes. All assessment risk lies with the internal assessor. accessibilityref, its developers, and staff accept zero liability for losses arising from use of or reliance on these outputs. Always verify against official sources: the W3C WCAG 2.2 Recommendation, the European Accessibility Act (Directive 2019/882), and your national enforcement authority.