2028682 - [a11y] Button used for navigation

Status: NEW

(Core :: Machine Learning: Frontend, enhancement)

Description

[John Northup]

Impacted Section/Element

Smart Window

Steps to Reproduce

In Advanced Preferences, set browser.smartwindow.enabled=true.

Open a content-rich page and open the Smart Window. Enter a question in the combobox and hit Enter. Navigate to "Memories settings" within the Memories dialog.

Expected Behavior

The button performs an in-page function such as opening a dialog.

Actual Behavior

The button triggers navigation to about:preferences#ai in a new tab.

User Impact

Users relying on screen reader output may be disoriented because they did not expect navigation to a new page, in a new tab, to occur.

WCAG 2.2 References

Best practice only. Although not a WCAG failure, it is a semantic and usability mismatch that disproportionately impacts screen reader users.

Recommendations

Because the "Memories settings" control performs navigation, a link would be the more appropriate native element.

Testing Environment

Firefox Beta 150.0b2 using "Flexible" Smart Window model

Assistive Technology Used

all screen readers

Further Reference

https://www.w3.org/WAI/ARIA/apg/patterns/button/

Severity

3-Moderate

Comment 1

[BugBot [:suhaib / :marco/ :calixte]]

The Bugbug bot thinks this bug is an accessibility bug, but please revert this change in case of error.

Comment 2

[John Northup]

Resolved: Button was changed to a toggle and no longer opens a dialog.