The inert attribute
type: TechArticle
description: When an overlay is open, the content behind it should be unreachable — not just dimmed. The inert attribute removes a subtree from tab order and the accessibility tree at once, replacing fragile focus-trap JavaScript.
language: en
is part of: Web Specification Studio
author: Web Specification Studio
publisher: Web Specification Studio
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
date modified: 2026-06-26T09:00:00.000Z
citation: HTML Standard — The inert attribute
  type: CreativeWork
  publisher: WHATWG
citation: ARIA Authoring Practices Guide — Dialog (Modal) Pattern
  type: CreativeWork
  publisher: W3C
citation: MDN — inert
  type: CreativeWork
  publisher: MDN

Web Specification Studio
type: WebSite

Web Specification Studio
type: Organization

breadcrumb
type: BreadcrumbList
item list element: Home
  type: ListItem
  position: 1
  item: https://webspecification.com/
item list element: Spec
  type: ListItem
  position: 2
  item: https://webspecification.com/spec/
item list element: Accessibility
  type: ListItem
  position: 3
  item: https://webspecification.com/spec/accessibility/
item list element: The inert attribute
  type: ListItem
  position: 4
  item: https://webspecification.com/spec/accessibility/inert-attribute/