Ghidra strives to be as accessible as possible to all users, including those relying on keyboard-only operation and screen readers. This document summarizes built-in accessibility features, recommended usage patterns, and known limitations.
Screen-Reader Guidance
Most of Ghidra's UI is built in Java/Swing, so screen reader behavior may differ from a web browser. To get the best results:
- Use a modern Java-aware screen reader (e.g. NVDA on Windows).
- Enable "focus following caret" or "announce focus changes" so you hear when UI components gain keyboard focus.
- Pause briefly after opening new dialogs or views, as Swing can sometimes batch events.
Keyboard Navigation
Ghidra provides comprehensive keyboard navigation support to traverse UI components, windows, and providers. For full details, including focus traversal and navigation shortcuts, see the Keyboard Navigation topic.
Quick Action Dialog (Ctrl-3)
Ghidra's Quick Action Dialog provides a fast, keyboard-first way to find and run any action. Press Ctrl-3 to open it, then:
- Begin typing any portion of an action name
- Use Up/Down arrows to navigate the list.
- Repeat Ctrl + 3 to expand from local to global actions.
- Press Enter to execute the selected command.
The dialog remembers recently used actions across sessions for quick recall. This feature is invaluable for screen-reader users or anyone who prefers keyboard navigation over menus.
Script Launcher (Ctrl-Shift-S)
Ghidra's Script Quick Launcher provides a quick way to run desired scripts. Press Ctrl-Shift-S to open it, then:
- Begin typing your script's name (wildcards and substrings allowed).
- Navigate the filtered list with Up/Down, then Enter to run.
The dialog remembers recentlyl used scripts for quick recall.
Known Limitations
- Swing's accessibility support is not as mature as HTML/ARIA. You may encounter missing or stale descriptions, focus swapping, or limited screen-reader gestures.
- Browser-style reporting (tabular UI state summaries) is not available.