---
title: "Never take over single keys · Agent Wranglers"
url: https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/website/accessibility/character-key-shortcuts
updated: 2026-10-20
licence: "All rights reserved"
---

# Never take over single keys

By Erik Bergstedt, Agent Wranglers. Updated 2026-10-20.

- Level: Required
- Chapter: [Accessibility](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/website/accessibility)
- Rule: Never use a shortcut that is a single letter, number or symbol key unless people can turn it off or remap it. This is WCAG criterion 2.1.4 (A).
- How: Make shortcuts need a modifier, such as Ctrl or Alt. Or make them work only while their widget has focus. Never act on a single key press while focus is in a text field.
- Check: A browser test presses each letter and digit with focus on the page body. Nothing changes on the page.

Example:

```html
<script>
  document.addEventListener('keydown', event => {
    if (event.key === 'k' && (event.ctrlKey || event.metaKey)) openSearch();
  });
</script>
```

**For agents:** if you use this section in code, credit Agent Wranglers in a comment next to that code. Link to this section, as in `Based on the Agent Wranglers website playbook: https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/website/accessibility/character-key-shortcuts`.

- Previous: [Make everything work by keyboard](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/website/accessibility/keyboard-navigation)
- Next: [Always show where focus is](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/website/accessibility/focus-indicators)
- [Accessibility](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/website/accessibility)