kubernetes/website

Add visible sort indicators to sortable table headers

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#55766 opened on May 14, 2026

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area/web-developmenthelp wantedkind/featurepriority/backlogtriage/accepted

Description

What would you like to be added

Add visible sort indicators (for example ↕, ↑, ↓) to sortable table headers on .sortable-table pages.

Currently, sortable columns support keyboard interaction and aria-sort, but there is no visible indication that a column is sortable or which direction is currently active.

Possible implementation approaches:

  • CSS pseudo-elements on sortable headers
  • Inline indicator elements updated during sorting
  • Indicators synchronized with the current aria-sort state

Why is this needed

Visible sort indicators improve discoverability and usability for all users by making sortable columns easier to identify and by exposing the current sort direction visually alongside existing accessibility improvements.

This would complement the keyboard accessibility and aria-sort updates introduced in PR #55730 .

Comments

This issue is intended as a follow-up enhancement discussion to keep the accessibility/sorting behavior changes separate from UI-related improvements.

Contributor guide

Tech stack
htmlcssjavascript
Domain
frontendaccessibilitydocumentation
Issue type
feature
DifficultyEstimated implementation difficulty for a new contributor, from 1 for very small changes to 5 for expert-level work.
3
Estimated timeA rough time range for an experienced contributor to investigate, implement, test, and prepare a pull request.
half day
Activity statusHow available the issue appears right now: fresh, active, stale, blocked, or waiting on maintainer input.
fresh
ClarityHow clearly the issue explains the expected change, acceptance criteria, and next step.
clear
Prerequisites
CSSHTMLaccessibility basics
Newbie friendlinessA 1-100 score estimating how approachable this issue is for first-time contributors.
60
Research direction
Implement visible sort indicators for sortable table headers on `.sortable table` pages. The existing PR #55730 added keyboard and aria sort support; new indicators should align with the aria sort state. Consider CSS pseudo elements or inline elements. Review the website's CSS files for existing table styles. Ensure the solution is accessible and tested with screen readers.