SuperDoc provides accessibility features for keyboard navigation and screen reader compatibility.

High contrast mode

Enable high contrast for improved visibility:
// During initialization
const superdoc = new SuperDoc({
  selector: '#editor',
  document: 'contract.docx',
  onReady: ({ superdoc }) => {
    superdoc.setHighContrastMode(true);
  }
});

// Or after initialization
superdoc.setHighContrastMode(true);

Keyboard navigation

Toolbar navigation

Navigate the toolbar without a mouse:
  • Tab - Move between toolbar groups (left, center, right)
  • Arrow keys - Navigate within a group
  • Enter - Activate button or open dropdown
  • Escape - Close dropdowns

Return to toolbar

Jump back to toolbar from anywhere in the document:
  • Windows: Ctrl + Shift + Alt + M
  • macOS: Cmd + Shift + Option + M

Document navigation

Standard keyboard shortcuts work as expected:
  • Tab - Move to next field/element
  • Shift+Tab - Move to previous field/element
  • Ctrl/Cmd + Arrow keys - Navigate by word
  • Home/End - Beginning/end of line
  • Ctrl/Cmd + Home/End - Beginning/end of document

Screen reader support

ARIA implementation

SuperDoc uses semantic ARIA roles for screen readers:
RoleElementPurpose
applicationMain containerIdentifies the editor application
documentEditor areaDocument editing region
toolbarToolbar componentFormatting controls
buttonToolbar buttonsIndividual controls
menuitemDropdown itemsMenu options
menuDropdownsOption containers
separatorDividersVisual/logical separation

ARIA attributes

  • aria-label - Describes the current focused item
  • aria-description - Provides additional context
  • aria-pressed - Indicates toggle button state
  • aria-expanded - Shows dropdown state

Semantic HTML

Tables and lists use standard HTML elements that are accessible by default:
<!-- Tables with proper headers -->
<table>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Column Header</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>Data Cell</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

<!-- Semantic lists -->
<ul>
  <li>List item with meaning</li>
</ul>

Focus management

  • Focus indicators visible on all interactive elements
  • Tab order follows logical document flow
  • Focus trapped in modals/dropdowns when open
  • Focus returns to trigger element when modals close

Known limitations

  • Complex tables may require additional navigation
  • Some advanced formatting options only accessible via toolbar
  • Custom keyboard shortcuts not yet configurable

Testing your implementation

// Check if high contrast is enabled
if (superdoc.isHighContrastMode) {
  console.log('High contrast active');
}

// Ensure toolbar is keyboard accessible
document.querySelector('.super-toolbar').setAttribute('tabindex', '0');

Browser compatibility

Accessibility features tested with:
  • NVDA (Windows)
  • JAWS (Windows)
  • VoiceOver (macOS)
  • Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge (latest versions)