processing / processing/p5.js-web-editor

Tabbing Gets Stuck in Code Editor

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#3,437 3 comments 0 reactions 0 assignees View on GitHub

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Area:Accessibility Area:Editor Bug On Hold
Dominant language
JavaScript
Stars
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Forks
1.7k
Avg merge
3d 4h
Merged PRs (30d)
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Description

p5.js version

No response

What is your operating system?

None

Web browser and version

No response

Actual Behavior

When using the p5.js Web Editor, pressing the Tab key inside the Code Editor causes the focus to get trapped. It behaves like an indentation key (which is expected in a code editor), but this results in an infinite tab trap, making it impossible for users to navigate to any UI components outside the editor using only the keyboard

Image

Expected Behavior

Users should be able to press a keyboard shortcut (e.g., Esc or Ctrl + M) to exit the editor and resume normal tab focus movement across the interface.

Alternatively, consider adding an invisible but focusable element after the editor to allow users to tab out.

Steps to reproduce
Steps:
  1. Open the p5.js Web Editor
  2. Click inside the code editor
  3. Press the Tab key repeatedly
  4. Notice that focus never leaves the editor

// Paste your code here :)

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

First steps

  1. Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

Start by reproducing the issue in the p5.js Web Editor using the listed keyboard steps, then locate the Code Editor's focus and Tab handling. Determine how keyboard users can leave the editor without losing expected indentation behavior, and verify that focus reaches UI components outside the editor using the chosen exit behavior.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
javascript
Domain
accessibility, frontend
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
3/5
Estimated time
1-2 days
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
35/100

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