What html elements are tabbable

Question

I'm trying to find a list of elements that are tabbable.

Adding tab-index to elements make them tabbable. Some elements are tabbable by default like <input>. Is there a list of these elements that are tabbable by default?

And optionally, why are they tabbable by deault?

Answer 1

The easiest way to find answers to such questions is by looking at the spec

I believe the list you are looking for is:

• a elements that have an href attribute
• link elements that have an href attribute
• button elements
• input elements whose type attribute are not in the Hidden state
• select elements
• textarea elements
• Editing hosts
• Browsing context containers

To answer your optional question: they are "tabbable" by default for usability issues. If you follow the principals of making a good, user friendly app, it should allow for a consistent navigation and discoverability among other things.

So, by making them "tabbable", in the order they appear in code, the default behavior is to allow the user to complete a form from top to bottom, with minimal clicks and moving around, this making the "thinking process" about what should be filled next unnecessary