Select-Only Combobox example: list popup not operable with arrows when Voice Over is on (on Chrome)

[claurennt]

While testing the Select-Only Combobox using the recommended keyboard interactions on this WAI-ARIA example page, I encountered an issue with VoiceOver enabled.
It works well on Safari but not on Chrome.

Here's what happens:

1. I focus on the combobox and expand it by pressing Enter.
2. When I try to navigate through the list items using the Down Arrow key, the focus is lost and returns to the page body.

Please see video below:

Select.mov

I'm a web developer and totally be willing to fix this issue!

[css-meeting-bot]

The ARIA Authoring Practices (APG) Task Force just discussed Issue 3353: Select-Only Combobox example: list popup not operable with arrows when Voice Over is on.

The full IRC log of that discussion

<jugglinmike> Topic: Issue 3353: Select-Only Combobox example: list popup not operable with arrows when Voice Over is on
<jugglinmike> github: https://github.com//issues/3353
<jugglinmike> Jem: It was opened last week
<jugglinmike> Matt_King: Someone is getting different behavior in Chrome versus Safari
<jugglinmike> Matt_King: We need to figure out if this is related to browser or screen reader functionality? Or is it something to do with the select-only combobox code?
<jugglinmike> Matt_King: Is there anyone who's available to do some root-cause analysis
<jugglinmike> Adam_Page: I'm unable to reproduce this. I think it would be good to ask the reporter for the software versions in use
<jugglinmike> Matt_King: Could you add a comment, Adam_Page, with your versions? Both macOS and Chrome?
<Jem> https://github.com//issues/3353
<jugglinmike> Adam_Page: You bet. I'll also try it on a second macBook (since I have one handy)
<jugglinmike> Matt_King: Awesome!
<jugglinmike> Matt_King: I'm not going to label this, yet, because we don't know if it's a bug or not

[adampage]

Hey @claurennt, thanks for reporting this. We’ve tried reproducing this in macOS 15.6 VoiceOver + Chrome 139.0.7258.128 but the keyboard behavior worked as expected, and consistently with Safari.

Would you share a few more details about your environment?

• macOS version
• Chrome version
• Safari version
• Are you using default VoiceOver settings?
• Do you have browser extensions active and/or can you reproduce this in an incognito window?

[claurennt]

Hi @adampage,

here you have the information about my environment:

• Apple M1 Pro Sequoia Version 15.5 (24F74)
• Chrome Version 139.0.7258.139 (Official Build) (arm64)
• Safari Version 18.5 (20621.2.5.11.8)
• I can reproduce it on Chrome Incognito (in Safari it works as expected instead).

Please find my current VoiceOver settings in the pictues below:

My keystrokes are:

• Tab to place focus on the closed combobox
• Enter to open the popup
• Down Arrow to try and navigate to the second option <-- this is the step where I lose focus

[mcking65]

@claurennt

When you press the down arrow key, is arrow quick nav set to on or off? If it is on, then the down arrow key will not be passed through to the combobox. Instead, VoiceOver may be attempting to move focus to the next rotor element. The type of element depends on your current rotor setting.

You can turn off arrow quick nav by simultaneously pressing left and right arrow keys.

[css-meeting-bot]

The ARIA Authoring Practices (APG) Task Force just discussed Issue 3353: Select-Only Combobox example: list popup not operable with arrows when Voice Over is on.

The full IRC log of that discussion

<Jem> Topic: Issue 3353: Select-Only Combobox example: list popup not operable with arrows when Voice Over is on
<Jem> github:https://github.com//issues/3353
<Jem> We may need to test this again. Matt was not able to reproduce this.
<Jem> arie: tabbing and entering into the combo bo and able to use my arrorw.
<Jem> s/bo/box
<Jem> mck: we verified it works correctly with voiceover runing when quick nav is turned off.
<Jem> ..quick nav option will try to move the focus to the next rotor item instead of letting the focus into combo box options.