1.4.13: Content on Hover or Focus

What it means

Additional content that appears on hover or focus — tooltips, submenus, popovers — must be dismissible, hoverable, and persistent until dismissed or no longer relevant. Users need time to read and interact without the content vanishing.

This helps keyboard and magnifier users who cannot easily chase fleeting panels.

How to fix it

• Allow Esc to close hover or focus content without moving focus.
• Keep the panel open while the pointer moves onto it.
• Do not require precise pointer paths that cause accidental dismissal.
• For essential instructions, consider showing them persistently instead of only on hover.

Quick examples

• Good: A tooltip stays open when hovered and closes with Esc or an explicit close control.
• Bad: A mega-menu disappears the instant the pointer leaves a one-pixel gap.
• Good: Keyboard focus on a help icon opens a panel that remains until blur or Esc.
• Bad: Critical pricing details appear only on hover with no keyboard access.