fix(control-ui): wire slash menu accessibility

Wire the Control UI chat slash-command menu to the composer with stable listbox and option IDs, active-descendant updates, and a live status announcement. Keep the native textarea role conforming while preserving the menu relationships and tests.

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -158,6 +158,7 @@ Docs: https://docs.openclaw.ai
 - Channels/Discord: treat bare numeric outbound targets that match the effective Discord DM allowlist as user DMs while preserving account-specific legacy `dm.allowFrom` precedence over inherited root `allowFrom`. (#74303) Thanks @Squirbie.
 - Channels/Discord/Slack: share one DM policy/allowlist resolver across runtime, setup, allowlist editing, and doctor repair, so legacy `dm.policy` / `dm.allowFrom` compatibility migrates to canonical `dmPolicy` / `allowFrom` without divergent access checks. Thanks @Squirbie.
 - Control UI: make the chat sidebar split divider focusable, keyboard-resizable, ARIA-described, and pointer-event based so sidebar resizing works without a mouse. Thanks @BunsDev.
+- Control UI/chat: wire the slash-command autocomplete menu to the composer with stable ARIA relationships so screen readers announce the active command or argument option. Thanks @BunsDev.
 - Agents/usage: keep PI embedded-run telemetry attributed to the resolved model provider instead of the PI harness label, so OpenRouter and other provider-backed turns report the right provider in session usage and traces. Thanks @vincentkoc.
 - Agents/attribution: send OpenClaw attribution headers on native OpenAI and Codex traffic, including SDK transports, realtime voice and TTS, device-code auth, WHAM usage, and remote embeddings, so PI-origin defaults no longer leak into provider requests. Thanks @vincentkoc.
 - Agents/auth: keep OAuth auth profiles inherited from the main agent read-through instead of copying refresh tokens into secondary agents, and refresh Codex app-server tokens against the owning store so multi-agent swarms avoid reused refresh-token failures. Fixes #74055. Thanks @ClarityInvest.

ui/src/styles/chat/layout.css

@@ -549,7 +549,24 @@
   }
 }
 
-.agent-chat__input > textarea {
+.agent-chat__composer-combobox {
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+}
+
+.agent-chat__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;
+}
+
+.agent-chat__composer-combobox > textarea {
   width: 100%;
   min-height: 40px;
   max-height: 150px;
@@ -565,11 +582,11 @@
   box-sizing: border-box;
 }
 
-.agent-chat__input > textarea:focus-visible {
+.agent-chat__composer-combobox > textarea:focus-visible {
   box-shadow: none;
 }
 
-.agent-chat__input > textarea::placeholder {
+.agent-chat__composer-combobox > textarea::placeholder {
   color: var(--muted);
 }
 

ui/src/ui/views/chat.test.ts

@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ import { renderChatSessionSelect } from "../chat/session-controls.ts";
 import type { GatewayBrowserClient } from "../gateway.ts";
 import type { ModelCatalogEntry } from "../types.ts";
 import type { ChatQueueItem } from "../ui-types.ts";
-import { renderChat } from "./chat.ts";
+import { renderChat, resetChatViewState } from "./chat.ts";
 
 const refreshVisibleToolsEffectiveForCurrentSessionMock = vi.hoisted(() =>
   vi.fn(async (state: AppViewState) => {
@@ -392,6 +392,7 @@ function renderChatView(overrides: Partial<Parameters<typeof renderChat>[0]> = {
 afterEach(() => {
   loadSessionsMock.mockClear();
   refreshVisibleToolsEffectiveForCurrentSessionMock.mockClear();
+  resetChatViewState();
   resetChatAttachmentPayloadStoreForTest();
   vi.unstubAllGlobals();
 });
@@ -452,6 +453,134 @@ describe("chat voice controls", () => {
   });
 });
 
+describe("chat slash menu accessibility", () => {
+  function inputDraft(container: HTMLElement, value: string) {
+    const textarea = container.querySelector<HTMLTextAreaElement>("textarea");
+    expect(textarea).not.toBeNull();
+    textarea!.value = value;
+    textarea!.dispatchEvent(new Event("input", { bubbles: true }));
+  }
+
+  function keydownComposer(container: HTMLElement, key: string) {
+    const textarea = container.querySelector<HTMLTextAreaElement>("textarea");
+    expect(textarea).not.toBeNull();
+    textarea!.dispatchEvent(new KeyboardEvent("keydown", { key, bubbles: true }));
+  }
+
+  it("wires command suggestions to the composer with stable active option ids", () => {
+    let draft = "";
+    const onDraftChange = vi.fn((next: string) => {
+      draft = next;
+    });
+    let container = renderChatView({ draft, onDraftChange });
+
+    inputDraft(container, "/");
+    container = renderChatView({ draft, onDraftChange });
+
+    const wrapper = container.querySelector<HTMLElement>(".agent-chat__composer-combobox");
+    const textarea = container.querySelector<HTMLTextAreaElement>("textarea");
+    const listbox = container.querySelector<HTMLElement>("#chat-slash-menu-listbox");
+    const activeId = textarea?.getAttribute("aria-activedescendant");
+
+    expect(wrapper?.hasAttribute("role")).toBe(false);
+    expect(wrapper?.hasAttribute("aria-expanded")).toBe(false);
+    expect(wrapper?.hasAttribute("aria-haspopup")).toBe(false);
+    expect(wrapper?.hasAttribute("aria-controls")).toBe(false);
+    expect(textarea?.hasAttribute("role")).toBe(false);
+    expect(textarea?.hasAttribute("aria-expanded")).toBe(false);
+    expect(textarea?.hasAttribute("aria-haspopup")).toBe(false);
+    expect(textarea?.getAttribute("aria-controls")).toBe("chat-slash-menu-listbox");
+    expect(textarea?.getAttribute("aria-autocomplete")).toBe("list");
+    expect(listbox?.getAttribute("role")).toBe("listbox");
+    expect(activeId).toMatch(/^chat-slash-option-command-/u);
+    expect(listbox?.querySelector(`#${activeId}`)?.getAttribute("role")).toBe("option");
+  });
+
+  it("updates the active descendant and live announcement during command navigation", () => {
+    let draft = "";
+    const onDraftChange = vi.fn((next: string) => {
+      draft = next;
+    });
+    let container = renderChatView({ draft, onDraftChange });
+
+    inputDraft(container, "/");
+    container = renderChatView({ draft, onDraftChange });
+    const initialActiveId = container
+      .querySelector<HTMLTextAreaElement>("textarea")
+      ?.getAttribute("aria-activedescendant");
+
+    keydownComposer(container, "ArrowDown");
+    container = renderChatView({ draft, onDraftChange });
+
+    const textarea = container.querySelector<HTMLTextAreaElement>("textarea");
+    const nextActiveId = textarea?.getAttribute("aria-activedescendant");
+    const activeOption = nextActiveId
+      ? container.querySelector<HTMLElement>(`#${nextActiveId}`)
+      : null;
+    const status = container.querySelector<HTMLElement>("#chat-slash-active-announcement");
+
+    expect(nextActiveId).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(nextActiveId).not.toBe(initialActiveId);
+    expect(activeOption?.getAttribute("aria-selected")).toBe("true");
+    expect(status?.getAttribute("aria-live")).toBe("polite");
+    expect(status?.textContent?.trim()).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(status?.textContent).toContain(activeOption?.textContent?.trim().split(/\s+/u)[0]);
+  });
+
+  it("wires fixed argument suggestions with command-and-argument option ids", () => {
+    let draft = "";
+    const onDraftChange = vi.fn((next: string) => {
+      draft = next;
+    });
+    let container = renderChatView({ draft, onDraftChange });
+
+    inputDraft(container, "/tools ");
+    container = renderChatView({ draft, onDraftChange });
+
+    const textarea = container.querySelector<HTMLTextAreaElement>("textarea");
+    const listbox = container.querySelector<HTMLElement>("#chat-slash-menu-listbox");
+    const activeId = textarea?.getAttribute("aria-activedescendant");
+
+    expect(listbox?.getAttribute("aria-label")).toBe("Command arguments");
+    expect(activeId).toBe("chat-slash-option-arg-tools-compact");
+    expect(listbox?.querySelector(`#${activeId}`)?.getAttribute("aria-selected")).toBe("true");
+  });
+
+  it("clears active descendant when suggestions close", () => {
+    let draft = "";
+    const onDraftChange = vi.fn((next: string) => {
+      draft = next;
+    });
+    let container = renderChatView({ draft, onDraftChange });
+
+    inputDraft(container, "/");
+    container = renderChatView({ draft, onDraftChange });
+    expect(
+      container
+        .querySelector<HTMLTextAreaElement>("textarea")
+        ?.getAttribute("aria-activedescendant"),
+    ).toBeTruthy();
+
+    inputDraft(container, "plain message");
+    container = renderChatView({ draft, onDraftChange });
+
+    expect(container.querySelector(".slash-menu")).toBeNull();
+    expect(
+      container.querySelector<HTMLTextAreaElement>("textarea")?.hasAttribute("aria-expanded"),
+    ).toBe(false);
+    expect(
+      container
+        .querySelector<HTMLElement>(".agent-chat__composer-combobox")
+        ?.hasAttribute("aria-expanded"),
+    ).toBe(false);
+    expect(
+      container
+        .querySelector<HTMLTextAreaElement>("textarea")
+        ?.hasAttribute("aria-activedescendant"),
+    ).toBe(false);
+  });
+});
+
 describe("chat attachment picker", () => {
   it("accepts and previews non-video file attachments", async () => {
     const onAttachmentsChange = vi.fn();

ui/src/ui/views/chat.ts

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { html, nothing, type TemplateResult } from "lit";
+import { ifDefined } from "lit/directives/if-defined.js";
 import { ref } from "lit/directives/ref.js";
 import { repeat } from "lit/directives/repeat.js";
 import { t } from "../../i18n/index.ts";
@@ -132,6 +133,8 @@ export type ChatProps = {
 
 const pinnedMessagesMap = new Map<string, PinnedMessages>();
 const deletedMessagesMap = new Map<string, DeletedMessages>();
+const SLASH_MENU_LISTBOX_ID = "chat-slash-menu-listbox";
+const SLASH_MENU_ACTIVE_ANNOUNCEMENT_ID = "chat-slash-active-announcement";
 
 function getPinnedMessages(sessionKey: string): PinnedMessages {
   return getOrCreateSessionCacheValue(
@@ -478,6 +481,63 @@ function selectSlashArg(
   }
 }
 
+function slashOptionIdSegment(value: string): string {
+  return (
+    value
+      .toLowerCase()
+      .replace(/[^a-z0-9_-]+/gu, "-")
+      .replace(/^-+|-+$/gu, "") || "item"
+  );
+}
+
+function getSlashCommandOptionId(cmd: SlashCommandDef): string {
+  return `chat-slash-option-command-${slashOptionIdSegment(cmd.name)}`;
+}
+
+function getSlashArgOptionId(commandName: string, arg: string): string {
+  return `chat-slash-option-arg-${slashOptionIdSegment(commandName)}-${slashOptionIdSegment(arg)}`;
+}
+
+function isSlashMenuVisible(): boolean {
+  if (!vs.slashMenuOpen) {
+    return false;
+  }
+  if (vs.slashMenuMode === "args") {
+    return Boolean(vs.slashMenuCommand && vs.slashMenuArgItems.length > 0);
+  }
+  return vs.slashMenuItems.length > 0;
+}
+
+function getActiveSlashMenuOptionId(): string | null {
+  if (!isSlashMenuVisible()) {
+    return null;
+  }
+  if (vs.slashMenuMode === "args") {
+    const commandName = vs.slashMenuCommand?.name;
+    const arg = vs.slashMenuArgItems[vs.slashMenuIndex];
+    return commandName && arg ? getSlashArgOptionId(commandName, arg) : null;
+  }
+  const cmd = vs.slashMenuItems[vs.slashMenuIndex];
+  return cmd ? getSlashCommandOptionId(cmd) : null;
+}
+
+function getActiveSlashMenuOptionLabel(): string {
+  if (!isSlashMenuVisible()) {
+    return "";
+  }
+  if (vs.slashMenuMode === "args") {
+    const commandName = vs.slashMenuCommand?.name;
+    const arg = vs.slashMenuArgItems[vs.slashMenuIndex];
+    return commandName && arg ? `/${commandName} ${arg}` : "";
+  }
+  const cmd = vs.slashMenuItems[vs.slashMenuIndex];
+  if (!cmd) {
+    return "";
+  }
+  const command = `/${cmd.name}${cmd.args ? ` ${cmd.args}` : ""}`;
+  return `${command} ${cmd.description}`;
+}
+
 function tokenEstimate(draft: string): string | null {
   if (draft.length < 100) {
     return null;
@@ -605,7 +665,12 @@ function renderSlashMenu(
   // Arg-picker mode: show options for the selected command
   if (vs.slashMenuMode === "args" && vs.slashMenuCommand && vs.slashMenuArgItems.length > 0) {
     return html`
-      <div class="slash-menu" role="listbox" aria-label="Command arguments">
+      <div
+        id=${SLASH_MENU_LISTBOX_ID}
+        class="slash-menu"
+        role="listbox"
+        aria-label="Command arguments"
+      >
         <div class="slash-menu-group">
           <div class="slash-menu-group__label">
             /${vs.slashMenuCommand.name} ${vs.slashMenuCommand.description}
@@ -613,6 +678,7 @@ function renderSlashMenu(
           ${vs.slashMenuArgItems.map(
             (arg, i) => html`
               <div
+                id=${getSlashArgOptionId(vs.slashMenuCommand?.name ?? "", arg)}
                 class="slash-menu-item ${i === vs.slashMenuIndex ? "slash-menu-item--active" : ""}"
                 role="option"
                 aria-selected=${i === vs.slashMenuIndex}
@@ -666,6 +732,7 @@ function renderSlashMenu(
         ${entries.map(
           ({ cmd, globalIdx }) => html`
             <div
+              id=${getSlashCommandOptionId(cmd)}
               class="slash-menu-item ${globalIdx === vs.slashMenuIndex
                 ? "slash-menu-item--active"
                 : ""}"
@@ -696,7 +763,7 @@ function renderSlashMenu(
   const hiddenCount = vs.slashMenuExpanded ? 0 : getHiddenCommandCount();
 
   return html`
-    <div class="slash-menu" role="listbox" aria-label="Slash commands">
+    <div id=${SLASH_MENU_LISTBOX_ID} class="slash-menu" role="listbox" aria-label="Slash commands">
       ${sections}
       ${hiddenCount > 0
         ? html`<button
@@ -1032,6 +1099,9 @@ export function renderChat(props: ChatProps) {
     updateSlashMenu(target.value, requestUpdate);
     props.onDraftChange(target.value);
   };
+  const slashMenuVisible = isSlashMenuVisible();
+  const activeSlashMenuOptionId = getActiveSlashMenuOptionId();
+  const activeSlashMenuOptionLabel = getActiveSlashMenuOptionLabel();
 
   return html`
     <section
@@ -1142,17 +1212,31 @@ export function renderChat(props: ChatProps) {
             `
           : nothing}
 
-        <textarea
-          ${ref((el) => el && adjustTextareaHeight(el as HTMLTextAreaElement))}
-          .value=${props.draft}
-          dir=${detectTextDirection(props.draft)}
-          ?disabled=${!props.connected}
-          @keydown=${handleKeyDown}
-          @input=${handleInput}
-          @paste=${(e: ClipboardEvent) => handlePaste(e, props)}
-          placeholder=${placeholder}
-          rows="1"
-        ></textarea>
+        <div class="agent-chat__composer-combobox">
+          <textarea
+            ${ref((el) => el && adjustTextareaHeight(el as HTMLTextAreaElement))}
+            .value=${props.draft}
+            dir=${detectTextDirection(props.draft)}
+            ?disabled=${!props.connected}
+            aria-autocomplete="list"
+            aria-controls=${ifDefined(slashMenuVisible ? SLASH_MENU_LISTBOX_ID : undefined)}
+            aria-activedescendant=${ifDefined(activeSlashMenuOptionId ?? undefined)}
+            aria-describedby=${SLASH_MENU_ACTIVE_ANNOUNCEMENT_ID}
+            @keydown=${handleKeyDown}
+            @input=${handleInput}
+            @paste=${(e: ClipboardEvent) => handlePaste(e, props)}
+            placeholder=${placeholder}
+            rows="1"
+          ></textarea>
+          <span
+            id=${SLASH_MENU_ACTIVE_ANNOUNCEMENT_ID}
+            class="agent-chat__sr-only"
+            role="status"
+            aria-live="polite"
+            aria-atomic="true"
+            >${activeSlashMenuOptionLabel}</span
+          >
+        </div>
 
         <div class="agent-chat__toolbar">
           <div class="agent-chat__toolbar-left">