Interaction · Complete runnable example

Reorderable list with move buttons

Move items with explicit buttons instead of requiring a drag gesture.

Live example

This preview runs in an isolated document. Clipboard writes and saved preferences may be blocked, and printing requires the standalone file. A dialog affects only the example. Reset reloads the original example state.

When to use it

Use explicit move controls when readers need to adjust a short list. The example keeps an ordinary ordered list and real buttons, without introducing an ARIA listbox or drag-only interaction.

Try the important details

  1. Move a middle item up and down using Enter or Space. Focus stays on the same item's move button.
  2. Try Up on the first item or Down on the last. The order stays unchanged and the status explains the boundary.
  3. Reset the original order, then disable JavaScript to inspect the readable baseline checklist.

How it works

  • Moving existing list nodes keeps each item's content and controls together. The same button receives focus after the move.
  • Visible position labels and aria-disabled boundary states are recalculated after each action; guarded handlers enforce those states.
  • A polite status identifies the moved item and new position. An initial node snapshot supports the explicit reset action.

The complete source

The preview, copied text, and downloaded file use this same document.

HTML

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<html lang="en">
  <head>
    <meta charset="utf-8" />
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" />
    <meta
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      content="default-src 'none'; style-src 'unsafe-inline'; script-src 'unsafe-inline'; img-src data: blob:; connect-src 'none'; form-action 'none'; object-src 'none'; base-uri 'none'"
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    <title>MRHTML | Put the next step first.</title>
    <style>
      :root {
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        color-scheme: light;
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      h2,
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      p {
        margin: 0;
      }
      h1,
      h2,
      h3 {
        font-weight: 500;
        letter-spacing: -0.045em;
        line-height: 1.1;
      }
      h1 {
        font-size: clamp(38px, 5.5vw, 65px);
      }
      h2 {
        font-size: 29px;
      }
      h3 {
        font-size: 21px;
      }
      p {
        overflow-wrap: anywhere;
      }
      a {
        color: var(--accent);
        text-underline-offset: 4px;
      }
      button,
      select {
        font: inherit;
        color: inherit;
      }
      button {
        cursor: pointer;
      }
      button,
      a,
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        touch-action: manipulation;
      }
      button:focus-visible,
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      .header {
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        justify-content: space-between;
        align-items: center;
        gap: 20px;
        padding: 28px 0;
        border-bottom: 1px solid var(--line);
      }
      .brand {
        font-size: 15px;
        font-weight: 700;
        display: flex;
        align-items: center;
        gap: 10px;
        letter-spacing: -0.5px;
      }
      .mark {
        display: grid;
        place-items: center;
        width: 28px;
        height: 28px;
        background: var(--accent);
        color: #fff;
        font-weight: bold;
        font-size: 18px;
      }
      .header > p,
      .eyebrow,
      .small {
        font: 10px/1.7 var(--mono);
        letter-spacing: 0.03em;
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      .header > p {
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      }
      main {
        padding-block: 43px 50px;
      }
      .intro {
        margin-bottom: 30px;
        max-width: 720px;
      }
      .eyebrow {
        color: var(--accent);
        margin-bottom: 13px;
      }
      .intro > p:last-child {
        font-size: 15px;
        max-width: 570px;
        color: var(--muted);
        margin-top: 18px;
      }
      .surface {
        background: #fff;
        border: 1px solid var(--line);
        border-radius: 14px;
        box-shadow: 0 12px 32px #263e3010;
      }
      .button {
        border: 1px solid var(--accent);
        background: var(--accent);
        color: #fff;
        padding: 10px 16px;
        min-height: 43px;
        border-radius: 7px;
        font-size: 13px;
        font-weight: 600;
      }
      .button.secondary {
        background: #fff;
        color: var(--accent);
        border-color: #a9bbb0;
      }
      .button[aria-disabled='true'],
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        background: #edf0e9;
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        border-color: #c9d1c4;
        cursor: default;
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      .status {
        font-size: 12px;
        color: var(--muted);
        min-height: 22px;
      }
      .note {
        font-size: 12px;
        color: var(--muted);
        margin-top: 20px;
        max-width: 75ch;
      }
      .footer {
        display: flex;
        justify-content: space-between;
        gap: 20px;
        padding-block: 22px;
        border-top: 1px solid var(--line);
        font-size: 10px;
        color: var(--muted);
      }
      .sr-only {
        position: absolute;
        width: 1px;
        height: 1px;
        padding: 0;
        margin: -1px;
        overflow: hidden;
        clip: rect(0, 0, 0, 0);
        white-space: nowrap;
        border: 0;
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      noscript p {
        padding: 15px;
        background: #e8ece2;
        border-left: 3px solid var(--accent);
        font-size: 13px;
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      code,
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        .header {
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        .header > p {
          font-size: 8px;
          max-width: 105px;
          text-align: right;
        }
        .brand {
          font-size: 13px;
          gap: 8px;
        }
        main {
          padding-block: 30px 35px;
        }
        .intro {
          margin-bottom: 26px;
        }
        .intro > p:last-child {
          font-size: 14px;
        }
        .eyebrow {
          font-size: 9px;
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        h1 {
          font-size: 40px;
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        .footer {
          flex-wrap: wrap;
          font-size: 9px;
        }
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      @media (max-width: 350px) {
        h1 {
          font-size: 35px;
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        .button {
          padding: 10px 12px;
          font-size: 12px;
        }
      }
      @media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
        *,
        *::before,
        *::after {
          animation: none !important;
          transition: none !important;
          scroll-behavior: auto !important;
        }
      }

      .list-heading {
        display: flex;
        justify-content: space-between;
        align-items: center;
        gap: 25px;
        padding-bottom: 23px;
      }
      .list-heading h2 {
        font-size: 25px;
      }
      .task-list {
        list-style: none;
        padding: 0;
        margin: 0 0 22px;
        border: 1px solid var(--line);
        border-radius: 12px;
        background: #fff;
        overflow: hidden;
      }
      .task-list li {
        display: flex;
        align-items: center;
        gap: 24px;
        padding: 25px;
        border-bottom: 1px solid var(--line);
      }
      .task-list li:last-child {
        border-bottom: 0;
      }
      .position {
        font: 15px var(--mono);
        color: #44683d;
        background: #e8eedf;
        border-radius: 7px;
        min-width: 43px;
        height: 47px;
        display: grid;
        place-items: center;
      }
      .task-copy {
        flex: 1;
        min-width: 0;
      }
      .task-copy h2 {
        font-size: 23px;
      }
      .task-copy p {
        font-size: 12px;
        color: var(--muted);
        margin-top: 9px;
      }
      .moves {
        display: flex;
        gap: 7px;
      }
      .moves button {
        display: flex;
        align-items: center;
        gap: 6px;
        min-height: 42px;
        border: 1px solid #a6b8a8;
        border-radius: 6px;
        background: #f8faf4;
        padding: 9px 12px;
        color: #2f5636;
        font-size: 13px;
      }
      .moves button[aria-disabled='true'] {
        color: #657060;
        background: #f1f3ed;
        border-color: #ced6c6;
      }
      .moves button:focus-visible {
        outline-offset: -4px;
      }
      .moves button span {
        font-size: 11px;
      }
      @media (max-width: 600px) {
        .list-heading {
          align-items: flex-start;
          gap: 20px;
        }
        .list-heading h2 {
          font-size: 23px;
          max-width: 160px;
        }
        .list-heading .button {
          font-size: 11px;
          white-space: nowrap;
        }
        .task-list li {
          display: grid;
          grid-template-columns: 33px minmax(0, 1fr);
          align-items: start;
          padding: 21px 18px;
          gap: 13px;
        }
        .position {
          min-width: 33px;
          height: 38px;
          font-size: 12px;
        }
        .task-copy h2 {
          font-size: 21px;
        }
        .task-copy p {
          font-size: 12px;
        }
        .moves {
          grid-column: 2;
          margin-left: 0;
        }
        .moves button {
          padding-inline: 14px;
        }
        .moves button span {
          font-size: 12px;
        }
      }
    </style>
  </head>
  <body>
    <header class="header wrap">
      <span class="brand"
        ><span class="mark" aria-hidden="true">m.</span>MRHTML / Workshop</span
      >
      <p>SMALL PATTERNS.<br />CONSIDERED DETAILS.</p>
    </header>
    <main class="wrap">
      <div class="intro">
        <p class="eyebrow">07 / BUTTON-DRIVEN REORDERING</p>
        <h1>Put the next step first.</h1>
        <p>
          Arrange this fictional project checklist with simple move buttons. The
          order changes in this document, with focus staying on the control you
          used.
        </p>
      </div>
      <noscript
        ><p>
          The original ordered checklist remains readable. JavaScript enables
          the move and reset buttons.
        </p></noscript
      >
      <div class="list-heading">
        <h2>A useful working order</h2>
        <button type="button" id="reset-order" class="button secondary" hidden>
          Reset order
        </button>
      </div>
      <ol class="task-list" id="task-list">
        <li data-name="Frame the question">
          <span class="position" aria-hidden="true">01</span>
          <div class="task-copy">
            <h2>Frame the question</h2>
            <p>Name one uncertainty worth resolving.</p>
          </div>
          <div class="moves" hidden>
            <button
              type="button"
              data-move="up"
              aria-label="Move frame the question up"
            >
              ↑ <span>Up</span></button
            ><button
              type="button"
              data-move="down"
              aria-label="Move frame the question down"
            >
              ↓ <span>Down</span>
            </button>
          </div>
        </li>
        <li data-name="Sketch a direction">
          <span class="position" aria-hidden="true">02</span>
          <div class="task-copy">
            <h2>Sketch a direction</h2>
            <p>Make a rough, readable version.</p>
          </div>
          <div class="moves" hidden>
            <button
              type="button"
              data-move="up"
              aria-label="Move sketch a direction up"
            >
              ↑ <span>Up</span></button
            ><button
              type="button"
              data-move="down"
              aria-label="Move sketch a direction down"
            >
              ↓ <span>Down</span>
            </button>
          </div>
        </li>
        <li data-name="Test the awkward state">
          <span class="position" aria-hidden="true">03</span>
          <div class="task-copy">
            <h2>Test the awkward state</h2>
            <p>Try a missing value or failed action.</p>
          </div>
          <div class="moves" hidden>
            <button
              type="button"
              data-move="up"
              aria-label="Move test the awkward state up"
            >
              ↑ <span>Up</span></button
            ><button
              type="button"
              data-move="down"
              aria-label="Move test the awkward state down"
            >
              ↓ <span>Down</span>
            </button>
          </div>
        </li>
        <li data-name="Write the handoff">
          <span class="position" aria-hidden="true">04</span>
          <div class="task-copy">
            <h2>Write the handoff</h2>
            <p>Keep the reason beside the decision.</p>
          </div>
          <div class="moves" hidden>
            <button
              type="button"
              data-move="up"
              aria-label="Move write the handoff up"
            >
              ↑ <span>Up</span></button
            ><button
              type="button"
              data-move="down"
              aria-label="Move write the handoff down"
            >
              ↓ <span>Down</span>
            </button>
          </div>
        </li>
      </ol>
      <p
        class="status"
        id="order-status"
        role="status"
        aria-live="polite"
        aria-atomic="true"
      >
        Four steps in their original order.
      </p>
      <p class="note">
        Use Tab to choose a move button, then Enter or Space to reorder.
        Boundary buttons remain focusable and explain when an item cannot move
        further. Nothing is saved between visits.
      </p>
    </main>
    <footer class="footer wrap">
      <span>MRHTML / Original runnable example</span
      ><span>Local content. No network required.</span>
    </footer>
    <script>
      (() => {
        'use strict';

        const list = document.querySelector('#task-list'),
          original = [...list.children],
          status = document.querySelector('#order-status');
        function update() {
          const items = [...list.children];
          items.forEach((item, index) => {
            item.querySelector('.position').textContent = String(
              index + 1,
            ).padStart(2, '0');
            item
              .querySelector('[data-move="up"]')
              .setAttribute('aria-disabled', String(index === 0));
            item
              .querySelector('[data-move="down"]')
              .setAttribute(
                'aria-disabled',
                String(index === items.length - 1),
              );
          });
        }
        list.addEventListener('click', (event) => {
          const button = event.target.closest('[data-move]');
          if (!button || !list.contains(button)) return;
          const item = button.closest('li'),
            items = [...list.children],
            index = items.indexOf(item),
            up = button.dataset.move === 'up';
          if ((up && index === 0) || (!up && index === items.length - 1)) {
            status.textContent = `${item.dataset.name} is already ${up ? 'first' : 'last'}.`;
            return;
          }
          if (up) list.insertBefore(item, items[index - 1]);
          else list.insertBefore(items[index + 1], item);
          update();
          button.focus();
          const position = [...list.children].indexOf(item) + 1;
          status.textContent = `${item.dataset.name} moved to position ${position} of ${items.length}.`;
        });
        document.querySelector('#reset-order').addEventListener('click', () => {
          original.forEach((item) => list.append(item));
          update();
          status.textContent = 'Original order restored. Four steps.';
        });
        update();
        document.querySelectorAll('.moves').forEach((control) => {
          control.hidden = false;
        });
        document.querySelector('#reset-order').hidden = false;
      })();
    </script>
  </body>
</html>