focus-states

name	focus-states
description	Generates accessible focus indicators meeting WCAG 2.4.7 and 2.4.11 requirements. Use when styling :focus-visible, keyboard navigation indicators, or fixing focus ring visibility issues.

Focus States Generator

Overview

Generate accessible, visible focus indicators for interactive elements. Creates focus styles that meet WCAG 2.4.7 (Focus Visible) and 2.4.11 (Focus Appearance) requirements while maintaining visual design consistency.

When to Use

• Setting up focus styles for a design system
• Ensuring keyboard navigation is visible
• Creating custom focus rings that match brand
• Fixing "invisible" focus states in existing UI

Quick Reference: WCAG Requirements

Criterion	Requirement	Level
2.4.7 Focus Visible	Focus indicator must be visible	AA
2.4.11 Focus Appearance	2px+ perimeter, 3:1 contrast	AAA
2.4.12 Focus Not Obscured	Focus not hidden by other content	AA

The Process

1. Get brand colors: Primary color and background colors
2. Ask style preference:
   • Ring (outline around element)
   • Glow (soft shadow-based)
   • Underline (for text links)
   • Hybrid (ring + offset)
3. Ask visibility approach: Always visible or focus-visible only?
4. Generate: Create focus tokens and utility classes
5. Test guidance: Provide keyboard testing checklist

Focus Style Options

Style	Character	Best For
Ring	Clean, defined	Buttons, inputs, cards
Glow	Soft, modern	Dark themes, premium UI
Underline	Minimal	Text links, nav items
Offset	High contrast	When ring blends with element
Inset	Subtle	Contained elements

Output Formats

CSS Custom Properties + Utilities:

:root {
  /* Focus tokens */
  --focus-ring-color: #2563eb;
  --focus-ring-width: 2px;
  --focus-ring-offset: 2px;
  --focus-ring-style: solid;

  /* Computed focus ring */
  --focus-ring: var(--focus-ring-width) var(--focus-ring-style) var(--focus-ring-color);
  --focus-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 0 var(--focus-ring-offset) var(--color-background);
  --focus-ring-shadow: 0 0 0 calc(var(--focus-ring-offset) + var(--focus-ring-width)) var(--focus-ring-color);
}

/* Base focus reset */
*:focus {
  outline: none;
}

/* Focus-visible for keyboard only */
*:focus-visible {
  outline: var(--focus-ring);
  outline-offset: var(--focus-ring-offset);
}

/* Alternative: box-shadow approach (more styling control) */
.focus-ring:focus-visible {
  outline: none;
  box-shadow:
    var(--focus-ring-offset-shadow),
    var(--focus-ring-shadow);
}

Component-Specific Focus:

/* Buttons */
.btn:focus-visible {
  outline: 2px solid var(--focus-ring-color);
  outline-offset: 2px;
}

/* Inputs - inset focus */
.input:focus-visible {
  outline: none;
  border-color: var(--focus-ring-color);
  box-shadow: 0 0 0 3px rgb(37 99 235 / 0.2);
}

/* Cards - offset ring */
.card:focus-visible {
  outline: 2px solid var(--focus-ring-color);
  outline-offset: 4px;
}

/* Links - underline enhancement */
a:focus-visible {
  outline: none;
  text-decoration-thickness: 2px;
  text-underline-offset: 4px;
  background-color: rgb(37 99 235 / 0.1);
  border-radius: 2px;
}

/* Skip link */
.skip-link:focus {
  position: fixed;
  top: 1rem;
  left: 1rem;
  z-index: 9999;
  padding: 1rem;
  background: var(--color-background);
  outline: 2px solid var(--focus-ring-color);
}

Tailwind Config:

module.exports = {
  theme: {
    extend: {
      ringColor: {
        DEFAULT: '#2563eb',
      },
      ringWidth: {
        DEFAULT: '2px',
      },
      ringOffsetWidth: {
        DEFAULT: '2px',
      },
    }
  },
  plugins: [
    // Custom focus-visible variant
    plugin(function({ addVariant }) {
      addVariant('focus-visible-within', '&:has(:focus-visible)')
    })
  ]
}

Tailwind Utilities:

<!-- Standard focus ring -->
<button class="focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-blue-600 focus-visible:ring-offset-2">
  Button
</button>

<!-- Glow style -->
<button class="focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-4 focus-visible:ring-blue-500/30">
  Glow Button
</button>

JSON Tokens:

{
  "focus": {
    "ring": {
      "color": { "value": "{color.primary.500}" },
      "width": { "value": "2px" },
      "offset": { "value": "2px" },
      "style": { "value": "solid" }
    },
    "glow": {
      "color": { "value": "{color.primary.500}" },
      "blur": { "value": "4px" },
      "spread": { "value": "2px" },
      "opacity": { "value": "0.3" }
    }
  }
}

Dark Mode Focus

/* Light mode */
:root {
  --focus-ring-color: #2563eb;
  --focus-ring-offset-color: #ffffff;
}

/* Dark mode - increase visibility */
:root.dark {
  --focus-ring-color: #60a5fa;
  --focus-ring-offset-color: #1f2937;
}

Focus Indicator Contrast

WCAG 2.4.11 requires 3:1 contrast between:

1. Focus indicator and adjacent background
2. Focus indicator and the element itself

Safe combinations:

Background	Focus Ring	Ratio
White	#2563eb (blue-600)	4.7:1 ✓
Gray-100	#1d4ed8 (blue-700)	6.5:1 ✓
Gray-900	#60a5fa (blue-400)	6.2:1 ✓
Black	#93c5fd (blue-300)	9.4:1 ✓

Interactive States Order

Apply states in this specificity order:

.element { }
.element:hover { }
.element:focus { }
.element:focus-visible { }  /* Keyboard only */
.element:active { }
.element:disabled { }

Testing Checklist

• Tab through entire page - focus always visible
• Focus ring visible against all backgrounds
• Focus visible on buttons, links, inputs, selects
• Custom components (dropdowns, modals) receive focus
• Focus trapped in modals when open
• Skip link appears on first Tab press
• Focus returns to trigger when modal closes
• No focus on non-interactive elements
• Focus order matches visual order

Common Fixes

Focus disappears on click:

/* Use focus-visible, not focus */
button:focus-visible { outline: ... }

Focus hidden behind sticky header:

:target { scroll-margin-top: 80px; }
*:focus { scroll-margin-top: 80px; }

Focus invisible on element with background:

/* Add offset to create separation */
outline-offset: 2px;
/* Or use contrasting ring color */