React-Native Accessibility Focus Order Issues

[KishoreKumar186]

Description

We are performing Accessibility testing in our React native app in iOS using Xcode Accessibility Inspector. We found few issues in focus order during the testing.

The components are read from left to right and top to bottom by default. We are not able to change the focus order as the components are not read in meaningful order. It could be better if there is a prop to configure the focus order by default and also, it should work across multiple components shown in the same screen.
In the video, it should traverse Text 1, Text 2, Text 3, etc instead of the current flow.

Focus is not staying on the triggered elements when a Modal/Keyboard/Drodown is closed. Instead, it is moving to the top of the screen. Ideally, the focus should stay and continue from the same element.
In the video, it should return to 'Button' instead of reading from the top.

Steps to reproduce

Open Xcode accessibility inspector and try to inspect any RN iOS app.
The components are traversed left to right and top to bottom.
Open a modal using a button. Once the modal is closed, the focus is not returning to the triggered button. But it is reading from the first element of the screen.

React Native Version

0.77.1

Affected Platforms

Runtime - iOS

Output of npx @react-native-community/cli info

System:
  OS: macOS 15.3.1
  CPU: (10) arm64 Apple M1 Pro
  Memory: 130.42 MB / 16.00 GB
  Shell:
    version: "5.9"
    path: /bin/zsh
Binaries:
  Node:
    version: 20.9.0
    path: ~/.nvm/versions/node/v20.9.0/bin/node
  Yarn: Not Found
  npm:
    version: 10.9.0
    path: ~/.nvm/versions/node/v20.9.0/bin/npm
  Watchman:
    version: 2024.05.06.00
    path: /opt/homebrew/bin/watchman
Managers:
  CocoaPods:
    version: 1.15.2
    path: /opt/homebrew/bin/pod
SDKs:
  iOS SDK:
    Platforms:
      - DriverKit 24.2
      - iOS 18.2
      - macOS 15.2
      - tvOS 18.2
      - visionOS 2.2
      - watchOS 11.2
  Android SDK:
    Android NDK: 22.1.7171670
IDEs:
  Android Studio: Not Found
  Xcode:
    version: 16.2/16C5032a
    path: /usr/bin/xcodebuild
Languages:
  Java:
    version: 17.0.11
    path: /opt/homebrew/opt/openjdk@17/bin/javac
  Ruby:
    version: 2.7.6
    path: /Users/kikumarm/.rbenv/shims/ruby
npmPackages:
  "@react-native-community/cli":
    installed: 15.0.1
    wanted: 15.0.1
  react:
    installed: 18.3.1
    wanted: 18.3.1
  react-native:
    installed: 0.77.1
    wanted: 0.77.1
  react-native-macos: Not Found
npmGlobalPackages:
  "*react-native*": Not Found
Android:
  hermesEnabled: true
  newArchEnabled: true
iOS:
  hermesEnabled: true
  newArchEnabled: true

Stacktrace or Logs

N/A

Reproducer

https://github.com/KishoreKumar186/rn-awesome-project/

Screenshots and Videos

React.native.focus.order.issue.mp4