The intent of this Success Criterion is to encourage design of Web content that gives users full control of changes of context. This Success Criterion aims to eliminate potential confusion that may be caused by unexpected changes of context such as automatic launching of new windows, automatic submission of forms after selecting an item from a list, etcetera. Such unexpected changes of context may cause difficulties for people with motor impairments, people with low vision, people who are blind, and people with certain cognitive limitations.
Some types of change of context are not disruptive to some users, or actively benefit some users. For example, single-switch users rely on context changes that are animated by the system, and the preferences of low-vision users may vary depending on how much of the content they can see at once and how much of the session structure they can retain in working memory. Some types of content, such as slide shows, require the ability to change context in order to provide the intended user experience. Content that initiates changes of context automatically only when user preferences allow can conform to this Success Criterion.
It is possible for more than one change of context to occur simultaneously. For example, clicking on a link which automatically opens a new window is an example of two separate changes of context related to the change in content and to the change in the viewport (window). The change in the content in this case is initiated by user request when they click on the link, but unless the user can be aware that the link will open in a new window then that change of context cannot be regarded as user-initiated.
Individuals who are unable to detect changes of context or may not realize that the context has changed are less likely to become disoriented while navigating a site. For example:
an "update now" button
Instead of automatically updating the content, the author provides an "Update now" button that requests a refresh of the content.
An automatic redirection
A user is automatically redirected from an old page to a new page in such a way that he or she never realizes the redirect has occurred.
Including pop-up windows using one of the following techniques: