Kyle M: Hover-only interactions

Vibe Check – Kyle M Asked About Hover-Only Interactions. Here’s the Real Talk.

Kyle M dropped a great question through the A&Q form:

“Is it okay to use hover-only interactions for things like tooltips or menus?”

Let’s talk about it, Kyle—because this is one of those things that seems harmless, but can quietly create serious accessibility issues.

A personal story – the tooltip that ghosted me

I once tested a site that used a row of mystery icons. No labels. No hints. Just vibes. Clicking didn’t do anything either. Out of frustration, I hovered over one with a mouse—and surprise—a tooltip popped up.

But when I went back to the same site on my phone? Nothing. On a touchscreen, I couldn’t hover. I also tried navigating with just a keyboard—again, no tooltip. Voice control? Same deal. That information was completely hidden.

And that’s when it hit me: if your content only shows up on hover, then a lot of people will never see it.

Elevate the vibe – what’s wrong with hover-only interactions?

Touchscreen folks can’t hover

The issue: Phones and tablets don’t have a hover state.

The fix: Let people tap to reveal content, or just make it visible without needing to do anything.

Example: Instead of a hover-only tooltip, use a tappable info button that reveals the same message.

Keyboard navigation doesn’t trigger hover

The issue: People who use the Tab key to move through your site won’t trigger hover styles.

The fix: Use :focus alongside :hover in your CSS. That way, the content shows up when someone tabs to it.

.tooltip:hover,
.tooltip:focus {
 display: block;
}


Voice commands don’t speak “hover”

The issue: Voice control users say things like “Click Menu” or “Tap Settings.” They can’t hover with their voice, so if the content is hidden until hover, it’s gone.

The fix: Use clear labels. Make sure any interactive content can be triggered with a voice command or keyboard input.

Screen readers may not pick up hidden hover content

The issue: Hover-only content is often hidden with display: none, which screen readers ignore unless properly coded.

The fix: Use ARIA attributes to link hidden content to visible elements. aria-expanded, aria-describedby, and aria-labelledby go a long way.

Vibe boost – how to do it right

Use click or tap instead of hover

Let people choose to reveal content, whether by mouse, tap, or keyboard.

Add keyboard support

Make sure everything works with Tab and Enter. Don’t assume a mouse is in the mix.

Keep important stuff visible

If something is essential (like an icon label or menu option), don’t hide it by default.

Use ARIA for accessibility

Screen readers need help understanding what’s shown and when. ARIA attributes provide that connection.

Self-reflection – check your design vibes

Kyle, ask yourself:

• Can someone on a touchscreen access all the content?
• Is everything usable with just a keyboard?
• Would voice command users know these features exist?
• Does it work if I unplug my mouse and try navigating?

If you hit a “no” on any of these, it’s time to revise.

Vibe in action – what to do next

Step 1: Audit your hover-only features

Go through your site and find anything that only shows on hover. Add tap, click, or focus options.

Step 2: Spread the word

Help your team understand why hover-only isn’t enough. Share examples. Run tests.

Step 3: Keep testing

Check your site with screen readers, touchscreens, keyboard-only setups, and voice tools. Get feedback. Iterate.

Vibing out

Kyle, thanks again for the thoughtful question. This stuff matters. Hover-based interactions might look slick, but they leave a lot of people out. That’s not the energy we want in accessible design.

By ditching hover-only and embracing inclusive patterns, you’re building something better for everyone. Keep the questions coming—I’ll keep the blogs flowing.

If you’re reading this and have your own accessibility question—big or small—head over to the question board and drop it in. I’m here to answer, explain, and help break things down in a way that actually makes sense. Let’s build accessible vibes together, one question at a time.