[wp-trac] [WordPress Trac] #40470: WordPress installation steps - button press differences

[WordPress Trac]

#40470: WordPress installation steps - button press differences
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 Reporter:  xavortm                              |       Owner:  (none)
     Type:  defect (bug)                         |      Status:  new
 Priority:  normal                               |   Milestone:  Future
                                                 |  Release
Component:  Upgrade/Install                      |     Version:
 Severity:  normal                               |  Resolution:
 Keywords:  has-patch has-screenshots needs-     |     Focuses:  ui,
  design                                         |  accessibility
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Comment (by afercia):

 Replying to [comment:12 drw158]:
 > Can we add functionality to this `a` element so that it can be activated
 by pressing the spacebar key?

 Hacking native HTML elements and altering their expected behavior would be
 far from ideal. Links are links, buttons are buttons. They have different
 interaction and semantics. The visual look should reflect their different
 nature to properly communicate the expected interaction.

 Historically, core used the same styling for buttons and links. Then, it
 tried to remediate introducing the `button-link` style (which is called
 "tertiary" in the Gutenberg context) and using some ARIA attributes. Also,
 several UI controls in core are links that behave like buttons when
 JavaScript is on (typically via some AJAX) while they behave like links
 (triggering a post request) when JavaScript is off. All this increases the
 potential confusion for keyboard and assistive technology users.

 I'd tend to think core came to a point where there's now the need to
 greatly simplify, reconsider this legacy approach, and just make buttons
 look like buttons and links look like links. I do realize some "action
 links" need to be styled differently from standard links. I'd suggest to
 explore a new style for them. Something that clearly identifies them as
 links, while giving them some visual prominence compared to default links.

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Ticket URL: <https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/40470#comment:13>
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