Setting focus and highlighting items
When an item on a screen is in focus, users can initiate an action on the item.
When users use a trackpad, they can move the highlight to set focus on an item. Then they can act on the highlighted item by clicking the trackpad or using the menu. When users use a touch screen, they interact directly with items on the screen using a finger. When users interact with an item, the highlight helps them identify the item that they are initiating the action on.
Cursors and pointers
When users use a trackpad, they can move a cursor or pointer to set focus on an item on a screen. The cursor or pointer icon can change to indicate its current behavior.
The following cursors and pointers appear in BlackBerry® applications:
Cursor or pointer |
Purpose |
|---|---|
arrow |
The arrow pointer indicates the position of the cursor on a web page. |
hand |
The hand pointer indicates the position of the cursor when users pause on a link. |
magnifying glass |
The magnifying pointer indicates that users can zoom in to or out from a section on the screen. |
caret |
The caret cursor indicates the position of the cursor in a text field that users can type in. |
text |
The text cursor indicates that the cursor is positioned over a text area in the browser. |
Best practice: Setting focus and highlighting items
- In most cases, when a screen, dialog box, or menu opens, make sure that one item on the screen has focus. This practice is important if users interact with items indirectly using a trackpad. Set focus on the primary item or action. For example, in lists, set focus on the first item in the list. However, if users leave a screen, save the position of the focus so that if users return to the screen, the last item in focus displays.
- Avoid allowing focus on items that users cannot initiate an action on (for example, disabled components).
- If you create custom UI components, choose a highlight color that has high contrast and clearly implies focus (for example, white text on a blue background). Use the same highlight color for all UI components.
- Avoid changing the font, font size, or font style for highlighted text or items.