How to Remove the Dotted Outline Around Buttons and Links in Firefox

• Firefox shows a dotted outline around focused elements (like buttons and links) to help users navigate webpages with the keyboard. This is an accessibility feature.
• Removing the outline completely can make it difficult for people who rely on keyboard navigation to understand which element is currently in focus.

Approaches to Removing the Outline:

1. CSS (Less Recommended):

   • You can use CSS to target the pseudo-class :focus on buttons and links.
   • Within this style, set the outline property to none.
   • Important: This removes the outline altogether, including for keyboard focus.

   While this achieves the visual change, it reduces accessibility.

2. Firefox Configuration (Not Recommended for Most Users):

   • This method involves changing internal Firefox settings. It's generally not recommended unless you have specific reasons and understand the impact.
   • By accessing the about:config page (type it in the address bar), you can find the setting browser.display.focus_ring_width. Changing this to 0 disables the outline for all elements.

   This removes the outline globally, affecting all websites you visit in Firefox.

Better Approach: Alternative Focus Style

If you still want to remove the default dotted outline but maintain accessibility, consider this approach:

1. Use CSS to target the :focus pseudo-class for buttons and links.
2. Instead of outline: none, set properties like border or box-shadow to create a visible focus indicator.
3. This provides a clear visual cue for keyboard users without the default dotted outline.

This approach balances design preferences with accessibility best practices.

/* Targets all buttons and links */
button:focus,
link:focus {
  outline: none;  /* Removes the outline altogether */
}

This code removes the outline for both buttons and links when they are focused. However, as mentioned earlier, it reduces accessibility for keyboard users.

Alternative Focus Style with Border:

/* Targets all buttons and links */
button:focus,
link:focus {
  outline: none;  /* Remove default outline */
  border: 2px solid blue; /* Create a blue border on focus */
}

This code removes the default dotted outline but adds a blue solid border with a width of 2 pixels to indicate focus for buttons and links. You can adjust the border properties (color, style, width) to match your design preferences.

/* Targets all buttons and links */
button:focus,
link:focus {
  outline: none;  /* Remove default outline */
  box-shadow: 0 0 0 2px rgba(0, 0, 255, 0.2); /* Create a subtle blue shadow on focus */
}

This code removes the default outline and creates a subtle blue shadow around the element when it's focused. You can adjust the box-shadow properties (offset, spread, blur, color) to achieve the desired focus effect.

1. Browser Extensions (Limited Scope):

   • There are browser extensions available for Firefox that allow customization of the focus outline appearance. These extensions might offer options to change the color, size, or even disable the outline altogether.
   • Limitations:
     • Extensions only work in the specific browser where they are installed.
     • They may not offer the same level of control or flexibility as CSS.

2. User Stylesheets (Advanced Users):

   • For advanced users, creating a user stylesheet allows defining custom CSS rules that apply to all websites a user visits. This stylesheet can target focus outlines on buttons and links.
   • Limitations:
     • Requires technical knowledge of CSS and user stylesheet creation.
     • Changes only apply to the user's specific browser profile.