Skip link

Detailed explanation

WCAG 2.0 SC 2.4.1 (Bypass Blocks) requires a mechanism to skip blocks of content repeated across pages — typically the header, navigation, and announcement bar. The dominant implementation is a "Skip to main content" link that is positioned off-screen by default and becomes visible on :focus.

A correctly-implemented skip link is the first focusable element on the page. When a keyboard user presses Tab on a fresh page load, the skip link receives focus and reveals itself. Pressing Enter jumps focus to the id="main-content" element on the page.

How this applies to Shopify stores

Many Shopify themes include a skip link, but customizations can affect its target, visibility, or focus behavior. AccessComply can report selected skip-link patterns on reached pages; merchants should also test the link from a fresh page load with a keyboard.

What merchants should check next

Treat this term as a practical audit prompt, not just a definition. Check the storefront pages where the concept shows up in real customer journeys: product discovery, add-to-cart, cart drawer, checkout handoff, account login, and support contact flows. If the issue affects code, verify the rendered HTML and computed browser output after the theme change. If it affects copy or media, keep the merchant-facing wording accurate and easy to maintain.

Primary source: w3.org