Question

The new HTML5 details and summary elements, are currently implemented in Chrome 12.

I find one thing that is concerning me and I would like to hear your thoughts on the matter.

When the open attribute is set, any child nodes besides the summary element, “content” of the details element are removed from the document flow.

• I want to increase usability by
  giving the user a clear visual cue.

• So I am preventing the default
  behavior in JavaScript.

• When the summary element is toggled
  (click or keyboard), a slide down
  animation starts if the details
  element is closed or a slide up
  animation starts when the details
  element is open.

If the element is open, the open attribute is removed when the animation is finished. Otherwise, the content will be invisible immediately while the animation is still running.

This is all fine but what about accessibility? Folks using assistive technology. They will have to wait the duration of the slide up animation before they have a confirmation that the details element is closed (because only then, the open attribute is removed)?

Answer 1

Why don’t you set aria-expanded to false just before the closing animation?