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Dictionary entry

reading order

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The sequence in which a screen reader or the keyboard moves through a page's content. It should follow the logical, sensible order of the information, not the scattered way pieces happen to be placed on screen.

Synonyms

  • content order
  • source order

Related terms

In plain words

  • the order things get read out on a page
  • which piece a screen reader reaches first

Usage example

Because the sidebar was coded before the article, the reading order announced the ads before the story.

Don't confuse with…

  • focus orderFocus order is the tab sequence through interactive controls only; reading order covers all content, including plain text, as it's read aloud.

Categories

  • Accessibility

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Focus term

Directly related

Two hops away

  • Relatedreading order related of focus indicator
  • Relatedreading order related of keyboard navigation
  • Relatedreading order related of screen reader
  • Relatedscreen reader related of alt text
  • Relatedscreen reader related of aria label
  • Relatedkeyboard navigation related of focus indicator
  • Relatedkeyboard navigation related of focus order
  • Relatedkeyboard navigation related of focus trap
  • Relatedfocus indicator related of keyboard navigation
  • Relatedfocus indicator related of non-text contrast
  • Relatedscreen reader related of reading order
  • Relatedfocus indicator related of reading order
  • Relatedfocus indicator related of skip link
  • Relatedkeyboard navigation related of skip link
  • Relatedscreen reader related of visually hidden text

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