Material-ui: [Dialog] does not scope tabbing

[ryanflorence]

Accessible dialogs need to scope tabbing inside the dialog:

1. Open the dialog
   
   
   
   • Dialog should get focused (or the close button in the dialog)
   
   
2. Hit "tab" at the last tabbable element
   
   
   
   • focus should move to the first tabbable element
   
   
3. Hit "shift + tab" on the first tabbable element
   
   
   
   • focus should move to the last tabbable element
   
   

You can see how we do it in react modal https://github.com/rackt/react-modal/blob/master/lib/helpers/scopeTab.js

There are numerous other issues, like handling a focus from the browser chrome into the app with an active dialog, it should focus the first tabbable element in the dialog. Also, after closing the dialog you need to return focus to the element that triggered the dialog to open. https://github.com/rackt/react-modal/blob/master/lib/helpers/focusManager.js

Finally, please consider this: http://instructure.github.io/blog/2014/09/25/accessible-dialogs/

[mewben]

It would be good too if it has a feature to set the default button autofocused just like a normal dialog behaves. :)

[EloB]

Interesting that this is labeled "feature request". I would rather say this is a bug. There isn't anyone that excepts you to focus and also edit elements under a overlay.

[nathanmarks]

@EloB agreed

[nathanmarks]

@newoga

Can we look at the implementations in these libs:
https://github.com/reactjs/react-modal
https://github.com/react-bootstrap/react-overlays/blob/master/src/Modal.js

they both support the correct behaviour here

[nathanmarks]

@mbrookes

Spec also requires this behaviour: https://www.google.com/design/spec/components/dialogs.html#dialogs-behavior

Dialogs should never be obscured by other elements or appear partially on screen. Dialogs always retain focus until dismissed or a required action has been taken, such as choosing a setting.

[newoga]

@nathanmarks I agree -- first time seeing this issue. I'll explore this more as this really needs to get fixed.

[nathanmarks]

@newoga

I started looking into this. Would you be open to the idea of drawing aspects from both the https://github.com/reactjs/react-modal repo that @ryanflorence shared a long! time ago and react-overlays?

I'm interested in putting together a proof of concept that would draw inspiration from these libraries, but be an implementation that is catered to our use case and use our own internal dependencies rather than all the utils etc that a library like react-overlays will add to our build. I don't think we should underestimate the value of having full control over a component that is at the centre of important core functionality.

Edit: Changed my mind

[nathanmarks]

@newoga

Well well... maybe i'll try react-overlays 😄 https://github.com/reactjs/react-modal/issues/156

[nathanmarks]

Just an update here. I have a dialog rewrite ready (will be submitting it after the styling update) with a much improved API and this issue fixed.