Formfocus

Formfocus is a term used mainly in web development and user interface design to describe the mechanism by which a form element such as an input, textarea, or select box receives keyboard focus. When an element gains formfocus, it becomes the active focus target, meaning keyboard input and certain keyboard shortcuts are directed to that element. The visual indication of formfocus is typically a focus outline or border, which is important for accessibility and usability.

Browsers handle formfocus through the focus event, which fires whenever an element receives focus. JavaScript can listen for this event to trigger custom behavior, such as validating input, displaying helpful tooltips, or automatically scrolling a form into view. The counterpart blur event occurs when the element loses focus. Developers can also programmatically set focus using the element.focus() method.

In assistive technology contexts, proper handling of formfocus is critical. Screen readers announce the focused element, and keyboard navigation relies on focus traversal order. Formfocus management should respect semantic HTML, use ARIA attributes where necessary, and avoid forcing focus onto unintuitive elements. Many frameworks provide utilities to simplify focus handling, ensuring a consistent and accessible experience across browsers and devices.