Accessible Drag-and-Drop Alternatives
Drag-and-drop feels intuitive with a mouse, but it is impossible for keyboard-only users and very difficult for people with motor impairments. Any feature that relies solely on dragging excludes a significant group of users.
The fix is not to abandon drag-and-drop, but to always provide another way to achieve the same result.
Provide a Simple Alternative
For every drag action, there should be an equivalent that works with a keyboard and is easy to operate.
- Buttons to move an item up, down or to a list.
- A menu to choose where something should go.
- Keyboard shortcuts for reordering.
Where This Comes Up
Drag-and-drop appears in file uploads, sortable lists, kanban boards and form builders. In each case, offering a click-based alternative keeps the feature available to everyone without losing the convenience for mouse users.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do we have to remove drag-and-drop?
No. You can keep it as a convenient option, provided there is an equivalent keyboard-friendly way to do the same thing.
If you need a hand with any of this, your Progressive Robot delivery team is ready to help. Raise a ticket from the Support area of your client portal or speak to your account manager and we will guide you through the next steps.