fix(overlays): honor string focusTrap config

Issue number: internal

---------

<!-- Please do not submit updates to dependencies unless it fixes an
issue. -->

<!-- Please try to limit your pull request to one type (bugfix, feature,
etc). Submit multiple pull requests if needed. -->

## What is the current behavior?
<!-- Please describe the current behavior that you are modifying. -->

Currently, when an error text is shown, it may not announce itself to
voice assistants. This is because the way error text currently works is
by always existing in the DOM, but being hidden when there is no error.
When the error state changes, the error text is shown, but as far as the
voice assistant can tell it's always been there and nothing has changed.

## What is the new behavior?
<!-- Please describe the behavior or changes that are being added by
this PR. -->

- Updated aria attributes
- Added observer with an observer

## Does this introduce a breaking change?

- [ ] Yes
- [x] No

<!--
  If this introduces a breaking change:
1. Describe the impact and migration path for existing applications
below.
  2. Update the BREAKING.md file with the breaking change.
3. Add "BREAKING CHANGE: [...]" to the commit description when merging.
See
https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/blob/main/docs/CONTRIBUTING.md#footer
for more information.
-->


## Other information

<!-- Any other information that is important to this PR such as
screenshots of how the component looks before and after the change. -->

[Checkbox
preview](https://ionic-framework-git-fw-6757-ionic1.vercel.app/src/components/checkbox/test/validation/)
[Toggle
preview](https://ionic-framework-git-fw-6757-ionic1.vercel.app/src/components/toggle/test/validation/)
[Radio Group
preview](https://ionic-framework-git-fw-6757-ionic1.vercel.app/src/components/radio-group/test/validation/)

⚠️ Flakiness ⚠️ 

The flakiness on checkbox and toggle is because when a native input is
present on the page, the browser will have the screen reader to be
really fast when it comes to checking information. This speed ends up
being too fast for `ion-checkbox` to be able to add the error text. This
leads to the error text not being announce consistently. There's no
issue when it comes to ion-input or ion-textarea because Ionic uses the
native inputs so their arias are read. There's also no issue
with ion-select because we don't have a native input. It's only an issue
with checkbox and the others is because it has a [native input that is
being
hidden](8e884bd2cb/core/src/components/checkbox/checkbox.tsx (L368-L369)).
So the browser sees that and speeds up the screen reader.

The flakiness on radio group is because when you tab out of the last
radio button, the ionBlur event is emitted by the child <ion-radio>.
This event bubbles up, but the timing is still too early for the group.

.github/workflows/actions/build-angular-server/action.yml

@@ -3,23 +3,23 @@ description: 'Build Ionic Angular Server'
 runs:
   using: 'composite'
   steps:
-    - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
+    - uses: actions/setup-node@2028fbc5c25fe9cf00d9f06a71cc4710d4507903 # v6.0.0
       with:
-        node-version: 22.x
+        node-version: 24.x
     - uses: ./.github/workflows/actions/download-archive
       with:
         name: ionic-core
         path: ./core
         filename: CoreBuild.zip
-    - name: Install Angular Server Dependencies
+    - name: 🕸️ Install Angular Server Dependencies
       run: npm ci
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ./packages/angular-server
-    - name: Sync
+    - name: 🔄 Sync
       run: npm run sync
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ./packages/angular-server
-    - name: Build
+    - name: 🏗️ Build
       run: npm run build.prod
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ./packages/angular-server

.github/workflows/actions/build-angular/action.yml

@@ -3,31 +3,31 @@ description: 'Build Ionic Angular'
 runs:
   using: 'composite'
   steps:
-    - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
+    - uses: actions/setup-node@v6
       with:
-        node-version: 22.x
+        node-version: 24.x
     - uses: ./.github/workflows/actions/download-archive
       with:
         name: ionic-core
         path: ./core
         filename: CoreBuild.zip
-    - name: Install Angular Dependencies
+    - name: 🕸️ Install Angular Dependencies
       run: npm ci
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ./packages/angular
-    - name: Sync
+    - name: 🔄 Sync
       run: npm run sync
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ./packages/angular
-    - name: Lint
+    - name: 🖌️ Lint
       run: npm run lint
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ./packages/angular
-    - name: Build
+    - name: 🏗️ Build
       run: npm run build
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ./packages/angular
-    - name: Check Diff
+    - name: 🔍 Check Diff
       run: git diff --exit-code
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ./packages/angular

.github/workflows/actions/build-core-stencil-prerelease/action.yml

@@ -8,20 +8,20 @@ inputs:
 runs:
   using: 'composite'
   steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v5
-    - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
+    - uses: actions/checkout@08c6903cd8c0fde910a37f88322edcfb5dd907a8 # v5.0.0
+    - uses: actions/setup-node@2028fbc5c25fe9cf00d9f06a71cc4710d4507903 # v6.0.0
       with:
-        node-version: 22.x
+        node-version: 24.x
 
-    - name: Install Dependencies
+    - name: 🕸️ Install Dependencies
       run: npm ci
       working-directory: ./core
       shell: bash
-    - name: Install Stencil ${{ inputs.stencil-version }}
+    - name: 📦 Install Stencil ${{ inputs.stencil-version }}
       working-directory: ./core
       run: npm i @stencil/core@${{ inputs.stencil-version }}
       shell: bash
-    - name: Build Core
+    - name: 🏗️ Build Core
       run: npm run build -- --ci --debug --verbose
       working-directory: ./core
       shell: bash

.github/workflows/actions/build-core/action.yml

@@ -8,22 +8,22 @@ inputs:
 runs:
   using: 'composite'
   steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v5
-    - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
+    - uses: actions/checkout@08c6903cd8c0fde910a37f88322edcfb5dd907a8 # v5.0.0
+    - uses: actions/setup-node@2028fbc5c25fe9cf00d9f06a71cc4710d4507903 # v6.0.0
       with:
-        node-version: 22.x
-    - name: Install Dependencies
+        node-version: 24.x
+    - name: 🕸️ Install Dependencies
       run: npm install
       working-directory: ./core
       shell: bash
     # If an Ionicons version was specified install that.
     # Otherwise just use the version defined in the package.json.
-    - name: Install Ionicons Version
+    - name: 📦 Install Ionicons Version
       if: inputs.ionicons-version != ''
       run: npm install ionicons@${{ inputs.ionicons-version }}
       working-directory: ./core
       shell: bash
-    - name: Build Core
+    - name: 🏗️ Build Core
       run: npm run build -- --ci
       working-directory: ./core
       shell: bash

.github/workflows/actions/build-react-router/action.yml

@@ -3,9 +3,9 @@ description: 'Build Ionic React Router'
 runs:
   using: 'composite'
   steps:
-    - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
+    - uses: actions/setup-node@2028fbc5c25fe9cf00d9f06a71cc4710d4507903 # v6.0.0
       with:
-        node-version: 22.x
+        node-version: 24.x
     - uses: ./.github/workflows/actions/download-archive
       with:
         name: ionic-core
@@ -16,19 +16,19 @@ runs:
         name: ionic-react
         path: ./packages/react
         filename: ReactBuild.zip
-    - name: Install Dependencies
+    - name: 🕸️ Install Dependencies
       run: npm ci
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ./packages/react-router
-    - name: Sync
+    - name: 🔄 Sync
       run: npm run sync
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ./packages/react-router
-    - name: Lint
+    - name: 🖌️ Lint
       run: npm run lint
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ./packages/react-router
-    - name: Build
+    - name: 🏗️ Build
       run: npm run build
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ./packages/react-router

.github/workflows/actions/build-react/action.yml

@@ -3,35 +3,35 @@ description: 'Build Ionic React'
 runs:
   using: 'composite'
   steps:
-    - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
+    - uses: actions/setup-node@2028fbc5c25fe9cf00d9f06a71cc4710d4507903 # v6.0.0
       with:
-        node-version: 22.x
+        node-version: 24.x
     - uses: ./.github/workflows/actions/download-archive
       with:
         name: ionic-core
         path: ./core
         filename: CoreBuild.zip
-    - name: Install React Dependencies
+    - name: 🕸️ Install React Dependencies
       run: npm ci
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ./packages/react
-    - name: Sync
+    - name: 🔄 Sync
       run: npm run sync
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ./packages/react
-    - name: Lint
+    - name: 🖌️ Lint
       run: npm run lint
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ./packages/react
-    - name: Build
+    - name: 🏗️ Build
       run: npm run build
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ./packages/react
-    - name: Test Spec
+    - name: 🧪 Test Spec
       run: npm run test.spec
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ./packages/react
-    - name: Check Diff
+    - name: 🔍 Check Diff
       run: git diff --exit-code
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ./packages/react

.github/workflows/actions/build-vue-router/action.yml

@@ -3,9 +3,9 @@ description: 'Builds Ionic Vue Router'
 runs:
   using: 'composite'
   steps:
-    - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
+    - uses: actions/setup-node@2028fbc5c25fe9cf00d9f06a71cc4710d4507903 # v6.0.0
       with:
-        node-version: 22.x
+        node-version: 24.x
     - uses: ./.github/workflows/actions/download-archive
       with:
         name: ionic-core
@@ -16,23 +16,23 @@ runs:
         name: ionic-vue
         path: ./packages/vue
         filename: VueBuild.zip
-    - name: Install Vue Router Dependencies
+    - name: 🕸️ Install Vue Router Dependencies
       run: npm ci
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ./packages/vue-router
-    - name: Sync
+    - name: 🔄 Sync
       run: npm run sync
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ./packages/vue-router
-    - name: Lint
+    - name: 🖌️ Lint
       run: npm run lint
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ./packages/vue-router
-    - name: Build
+    - name: 🏗️ Build
       run: npm run build
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ./packages/vue-router
-    - name: Test Spec
+    - name: 🧪 Test Spec
       run: npm run test.spec
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ./packages/vue-router

.github/workflows/actions/build-vue/action.yml

@@ -3,31 +3,31 @@ description: 'Build Ionic Vue'
 runs:
   using: 'composite'
   steps:
-    - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
+    - uses: actions/setup-node@2028fbc5c25fe9cf00d9f06a71cc4710d4507903 # v6.0.0
       with:
-        node-version: 22.x
+        node-version: 24.x
     - uses: ./.github/workflows/actions/download-archive
       with:
         name: ionic-core
         path: ./core
         filename: CoreBuild.zip
-    - name: Install Vue Dependencies
+    - name: 🕸️ Install Vue Dependencies
       run: npm ci
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ./packages/vue
-    - name: Sync
+    - name: 🔄 Sync
       run: npm run sync
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ./packages/vue
-    - name: Lint
+    - name: 🖌️ Lint
       run: npm run lint
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ./packages/vue
-    - name: Build
+    - name: 🏗️ Build
       run: npm run build
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ./packages/vue
-    - name: Check Diff
+    - name: 🔍 Check Diff
       run: git diff --exit-code
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ./packages/vue

.github/workflows/actions/download-archive/action.yml

@@ -10,10 +10,10 @@ inputs:
 runs:
   using: 'composite'
   steps:
-    - uses: actions/download-artifact@v5
+    - uses: actions/download-artifact@v6
       with:
         name: ${{ inputs.name }}
         path: ${{ inputs.path }}
-    - name: Extract Archive
+    - name: 🔎 Extract Archive
       run: unzip -q -o ${{ inputs.path }}/${{ inputs.filename }}
       shell: bash

.github/workflows/actions/publish-npm/action.yml

@@ -8,48 +8,51 @@ inputs:
   tag:
     description: 'The tag to publish to on NPM.'
   preid:
-    description: 'The prerelease identifier used when doing a prerelease.'
+    description: "Prerelease identifier such as 'alpha', 'beta', 'rc', or 'next'. Leave blank to skip prerelease tagging."
   working-directory:
     description: 'The directory of the package.'
   folder:
     default: './'
     description: 'A folder containing a package.json file.'
-  token:
-    description: 'The NPM authentication token required to publish.'
+  node-version:
+    description: 'Node.js version to use when publishing.'
+    required: false
+    default: '24.x'
 runs:
   using: 'composite'
   steps:
-    - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
+    - name: 🟢 Configure Node for Publish
+      uses: actions/setup-node@2028fbc5c25fe9cf00d9f06a71cc4710d4507903 # v6.0.0
       with:
-        node-version: 22.x
+        node-version: ${{ inputs.node-version }}
+        registry-url: 'https://registry.npmjs.org'
     # Provenance requires npm 9.5.0+
-    - name: Install latest npm
+    - name: 📦 Install latest npm
       run: npm install -g npm@latest
       shell: bash
     # This ensures the local version of Lerna is installed
     # and that we do not use the global Lerna version
-    - name: Install root dependencies
+    - name: 🕸️ Install root dependencies
       run: npm ci
       shell: bash
-    - name: Install Dependencies
+    - name: 📦 Install Dependencies
       run: npx lerna@5 bootstrap --include-dependencies --scope ${{ inputs.scope }} --ignore-scripts -- --legacy-peer-deps
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ${{ inputs.working-directory }}
-    - name: Update Version
-      run: npx lerna@5 version ${{ inputs.version }} --yes --exact --no-changelog --no-push --no-git-tag-version --preid=${{ inputs.preid }}
+    - name: 🏷️ Set Version
+      run: |
+        if [ -z "${{ inputs.preid }}" ]; then
+          npx lerna@5 version ${{ inputs.version }} --yes --exact --no-changelog --no-push --no-git-tag-version
+        else
+          npx lerna@5 version ${{ inputs.version }} --yes --exact --no-changelog --no-push --no-git-tag-version --preid=${{ inputs.preid }}
+        fi
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ${{ inputs.working-directory }}
-    - name: Run Build
+    - name: 🏗️ Run Build
       run: npm run build
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ${{ inputs.working-directory }}
-    - name: Prepare NPM Token
-      run: echo //registry.npmjs.org/:_authToken=${NPM_TOKEN} > .npmrc
-      working-directory: ${{ inputs.working-directory }}
-      shell: bash
-      env:
-        NPM_TOKEN: ${{ inputs.token }}
-    - name: Publish to NPM
+    - name: 🚀 Publish to NPM
       run: npm publish ${{ inputs.folder }} --tag ${{ inputs.tag }} --provenance
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ${{ inputs.working-directory }}

.github/workflows/actions/test-angular-e2e/action.yml

@@ -6,9 +6,9 @@ inputs:
 runs:
   using: 'composite'
   steps:
-    - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
+    - uses: actions/setup-node@2028fbc5c25fe9cf00d9f06a71cc4710d4507903 # v6.0.0
       with:
-        node-version: 22.x
+        node-version: 24.x
     - uses: ./.github/workflows/actions/download-archive
       with:
         name: ionic-core
@@ -24,23 +24,23 @@ runs:
         name: ionic-angular-server
         path: ./packages/angular-server
         filename: AngularServerBuild.zip
-    - name: Create Test App
+    - name: 🧪 Create Test App
       run: ./build.sh ${{ inputs.app }}
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ./packages/angular/test
-    - name: Install Dependencies
+    - name: 🕸️ Install Dependencies
       run: npm install
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ./packages/angular/test/build/${{ inputs.app }}
-    - name: Install Playwright Browsers
+    - name: 📦 Install Playwright Browsers
       run: npx playwright install
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ./packages/angular/test/build/${{ inputs.app }}
-    - name: Sync Built Changes
+    - name: 🔄 Sync Built Changes
       run: npm run sync
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ./packages/angular/test/build/${{ inputs.app }}
-    - name: Run Tests
+    - name: 🧪 Run Tests
       run: npm run test
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ./packages/angular/test/build/${{ inputs.app }}

.github/workflows/actions/test-core-clean-build/action.yml

@@ -3,16 +3,16 @@ description: 'Test Core Clean Build'
 runs:
   using: 'composite'
   steps:
-    - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
+    - uses: actions/setup-node@2028fbc5c25fe9cf00d9f06a71cc4710d4507903 # v6.0.0
       with:
-        node-version: 22.x
+        node-version: 24.x
 
     - uses: ./.github/workflows/actions/download-archive
       with:
         name: ionic-core
         path: ./core
         filename: CoreBuild.zip
-    - name: Check Diff
+    - name: 🔍 Check Diff
       run: |
         git diff --exit-code || {
           echo -e "\033[1;31m⚠️ Error: Differences Detected ⚠️\033[0m"

.github/workflows/actions/test-core-lint/action.yml

@@ -3,21 +3,21 @@ description: 'Test Core Lint'
 runs:
   using: 'composite'
   steps:
-    - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
+    - uses: actions/setup-node@2028fbc5c25fe9cf00d9f06a71cc4710d4507903 # v6.0.0
       with:
-        node-version: 22.x
-    - name: Install Dependencies
+        node-version: 24.x
+    - name: 🕸️ Install Dependencies
       run: npm ci
       working-directory: ./core
       shell: bash
-    - name: Lint
+    - name: 🖌️ Lint
       run: npm run lint
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ./core
     # Lint changes should be pushed
     # to the branch before the branch
     # is merge eligible.
-    - name: Check Lint Results
+    - name: 🔎 Check Lint Results
       run: git diff --exit-code
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ./core

.github/workflows/actions/test-core-screenshot/action.yml

@@ -13,19 +13,19 @@ inputs:
 runs:
   using: 'composite'
   steps:
-    - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
+    - uses: actions/setup-node@2028fbc5c25fe9cf00d9f06a71cc4710d4507903 # v6.0.0
       with:
-        node-version: 22.x
+        node-version: 24.x
     - uses: ./.github/workflows/actions/download-archive
       with:
         name: ionic-core
         path: ./core
         filename: CoreBuild.zip
-    - name: Install Dependencies
+    - name: 🕸️ Install Dependencies
       run: npm install
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ./core
-    - name: Test
+    - name: 🧪 Test
       if: inputs.update != 'true'
       run: npm run test.e2e.docker.ci ${{ inputs.component }} -- --shard=${{ inputs.shard }}/${{ inputs.totalShards }}
       shell: bash
@@ -60,13 +60,13 @@ runs:
         fi
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ./core
-    - name: Archive Updated Screenshots
+    - name: 📦 Archive Updated Screenshots
       if: inputs.update == 'true' && steps.test-and-update.outputs.hasUpdatedScreenshots == 'true'
-      uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+      uses: actions/upload-artifact@v5
       with:
         name: updated-screenshots-${{ inputs.shard }}-${{ inputs.totalShards }}
         path: UpdatedScreenshots-${{ inputs.shard }}-${{ inputs.totalShards }}.zip
-    - name: Archive Test Results
+    - name: 📦 Archive Test Results
       # The always() ensures that this step
       # runs even if the previous step fails.
       # We want the test results to be archived

.github/workflows/actions/test-core-spec/action.yml

@@ -6,14 +6,14 @@ inputs:
 runs:
   using: 'composite'
   steps:
-    - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
+    - uses: actions/setup-node@2028fbc5c25fe9cf00d9f06a71cc4710d4507903 # v6.0.0
       with:
-        node-version: 22.x
-    - name: Install Dependencies
+        node-version: 24.x
+    - name: 🕸️ Install Dependencies
       run: npm ci
       working-directory: ./core
       shell: bash
-    - name: Install Stencil ${{ inputs.stencil-version }}
+    - name: 📦 Install Stencil ${{ inputs.stencil-version }}
       run: npm install @stencil/core@${{ inputs.stencil-version }}
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ./core
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ runs:
         name: ionic-core
         path: ./core
         filename: CoreBuild.zip
-    - name: Test
+    - name: 🧪 Test
       run: npm run test.spec -- --ci
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ./core

.github/workflows/actions/test-react-e2e/action.yml

@@ -6,9 +6,9 @@ inputs:
 runs:
   using: 'composite'
   steps:
-    - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
+    - uses: actions/setup-node@2028fbc5c25fe9cf00d9f06a71cc4710d4507903 # v6.0.0
       with:
-        node-version: 22.x
+        node-version: 24.x
     - uses: ./.github/workflows/actions/download-archive
       with:
         name: ionic-core
@@ -24,23 +24,23 @@ runs:
         name: ionic-react-router
         path: ./packages/react-router
         filename: ReactRouterBuild.zip
-    - name: Create Test App
+    - name: 🧪 Create Test App
       run: ./build.sh ${{ inputs.app }}
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ./packages/react/test
-    - name: Install Dependencies
+    - name: 🕸️ Install Dependencies
       run: npm install
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ./packages/react/test/build/${{ inputs.app }}
-    - name: Sync Built Changes
+    - name: 🔄 Sync Built Changes
       run: npm run sync
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ./packages/react/test/build/${{ inputs.app }}
-    - name: Build
+    - name: 🏗️ Build
       run: npm run build
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ./packages/react/test/build/${{ inputs.app }}
-    - name: Run Tests
+    - name: 🧪 Run Tests
       run: npm run e2e
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ./packages/react/test/build/${{ inputs.app }}

.github/workflows/actions/test-react-router-e2e/action.yml

@@ -6,9 +6,9 @@ inputs:
 runs:
   using: 'composite'
   steps:
-    - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
+    - uses: actions/setup-node@2028fbc5c25fe9cf00d9f06a71cc4710d4507903 # v6.0.0
       with:
-        node-version: 22.x
+        node-version: 24.x
     - uses: ./.github/workflows/actions/download-archive
       with:
         name: ionic-core
@@ -24,23 +24,23 @@ runs:
         name: ionic-react-router
         path: ./packages/react-router
         filename: ReactRouterBuild.zip
-    - name: Create Test App
+    - name: 🧪 Create Test App
       run: ./build.sh ${{ inputs.app }}
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ./packages/react-router/test
-    - name: Install Dependencies
+    - name: 🕸️ Install Dependencies
       run: npm install
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ./packages/react-router/test/build/${{ inputs.app }}
-    - name: Sync Built Changes
+    - name: 🔄 Sync Built Changes
       run: npm run sync
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ./packages/react-router/test/build/${{ inputs.app }}
-    - name: Build
+    - name: 🏗️ Build
       run: npm run build
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ./packages/react-router/test/build/${{ inputs.app }}
-    - name: Run Tests
+    - name: 🧪 Run Tests
       run: npm run e2e
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ./packages/react-router/test/build/${{ inputs.app }}

.github/workflows/actions/test-vue-e2e/action.yml

@@ -6,9 +6,9 @@ inputs:
 runs:
   using: 'composite'
   steps:
-    - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
+    - uses: actions/setup-node@2028fbc5c25fe9cf00d9f06a71cc4710d4507903 # v6.0.0
       with:
-        node-version: 22.x
+        node-version: 24.x
     - uses: ./.github/workflows/actions/download-archive
       with:
         name: ionic-core
@@ -24,23 +24,23 @@ runs:
         name: ionic-vue-router
         path: ./packages/vue-router
         filename: VueRouterBuild.zip
-    - name: Create Test App
+    - name: 🧪 Create Test App
       run: ./build.sh ${{ inputs.app }}
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ./packages/vue/test
-    - name: Install Dependencies
+    - name: 📦 Install Dependencies
       run: npm install
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ./packages/vue/test/build/${{ inputs.app }}
-    - name: Sync
+    - name: 🔄 Sync
       run: npm run sync
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ./packages/vue/test/build/${{ inputs.app }}
-    - name: Run Spec Tests
+    - name: 🧪 Run Spec Tests
       run: npm run test:unit
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ./packages/vue/test/build/${{ inputs.app }}
-    - name: Run E2E Tests
+    - name: 🧪 Run E2E Tests
       run: npm run test:e2e
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ./packages/vue/test/build/${{ inputs.app }}

.github/workflows/actions/update-reference-screenshots/action.yml

@@ -7,13 +7,13 @@ on:
 runs:
   using: 'composite'
   steps:
-    - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
+    - uses: actions/setup-node@2028fbc5c25fe9cf00d9f06a71cc4710d4507903 # v6.0.0
       with:
-        node-version: 22.x
-    - uses: actions/download-artifact@v5
+        node-version: 24.x
+    - uses: actions/download-artifact@v6
       with:
         path: ./artifacts
-    - name: Extract Archives
+    - name: 🔎 Extract Archives
       # This finds all .zip files in the ./artifacts
       # directory, including nested directories.
       # It then unzips every .zip to the root directory
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ runs:
         find . -type f -name 'UpdatedScreenshots-*.zip' -exec unzip -q -o -d ../ {} \;
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ./artifacts
-    - name: Push Screenshots
+    - name: 📸 Push Screenshots
       # Configure user as Ionitron
       # and push only the changed .png snapshots
       # to the remote branch.

.github/workflows/actions/upload-archive/action.yml

@@ -10,10 +10,10 @@ inputs:
 runs:
   using: 'composite'
   steps:
-    - name: Create Archive
+    - name: 🗄️ Create Archive
       run: zip -q -r ${{ inputs.output }} ${{ inputs.paths }}
       shell: bash
-    - uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+    - uses: actions/upload-artifact@v5
       with:
         name: ${{ inputs.name }}
         path: ${{ inputs.output }}

.github/workflows/assign-issues.yml

@@ -13,6 +13,6 @@ jobs:
       - name: 'Auto-assign issue'
         uses: pozil/auto-assign-issue@39c06395cbac76e79afc4ad4e5c5c6db6ecfdd2e # v2.2.0
         with:
-          assignees: brandyscarney, ShaneK
+          assignees: brandyscarney, thetaPC, ShaneK
           numOfAssignee: 1
           allowSelfAssign: false

.github/workflows/build.yml

@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ jobs:
   build-core:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+      - uses: actions/checkout@08c6903cd8c0fde910a37f88322edcfb5dd907a8 # v5.0.0
       - uses: ./.github/workflows/actions/build-core
         with:
           ionicons-version: ${{ inputs.ionicons_npm_release_tag }}
@@ -31,21 +31,21 @@ jobs:
     needs: [build-core]
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+      - uses: actions/checkout@08c6903cd8c0fde910a37f88322edcfb5dd907a8 # v5.0.0
       - uses: ./.github/workflows/actions/test-core-clean-build
 
   test-core-lint:
     needs: [build-core]
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+      - uses: actions/checkout@08c6903cd8c0fde910a37f88322edcfb5dd907a8 # v5.0.0
       - uses: ./.github/workflows/actions/test-core-lint
 
   test-core-spec:
     needs: [build-core]
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+      - uses: actions/checkout@08c6903cd8c0fde910a37f88322edcfb5dd907a8 # v5.0.0
       - uses: ./.github/workflows/actions/test-core-spec
 
   test-core-screenshot:
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ jobs:
     needs: [build-core]
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+      - uses: actions/checkout@08c6903cd8c0fde910a37f88322edcfb5dd907a8 # v5.0.0
       - uses: ./.github/workflows/actions/test-core-screenshot
         with:
           shard: ${{ matrix.shard }}
@@ -90,14 +90,14 @@ jobs:
     needs: [build-core]
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+    - uses: actions/checkout@08c6903cd8c0fde910a37f88322edcfb5dd907a8 # v5.0.0
     - uses: ./.github/workflows/actions/build-vue
 
   build-vue-router:
     needs: [build-vue]
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+    - uses: actions/checkout@08c6903cd8c0fde910a37f88322edcfb5dd907a8 # v5.0.0
     - uses: ./.github/workflows/actions/build-vue-router
 
   test-vue-e2e:
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ jobs:
     needs: [build-vue, build-vue-router]
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+    - uses: actions/checkout@08c6903cd8c0fde910a37f88322edcfb5dd907a8 # v5.0.0
     - uses: ./.github/workflows/actions/test-vue-e2e
       with:
         app: ${{ matrix.apps }}
@@ -126,14 +126,14 @@ jobs:
     needs: [build-core]
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+    - uses: actions/checkout@08c6903cd8c0fde910a37f88322edcfb5dd907a8 # v5.0.0
     - uses: ./.github/workflows/actions/build-angular
 
   build-angular-server:
     needs: [build-core]
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+    - uses: actions/checkout@08c6903cd8c0fde910a37f88322edcfb5dd907a8 # v5.0.0
     - uses: ./.github/workflows/actions/build-angular-server
 
   test-angular-e2e:
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ jobs:
     needs: [build-angular, build-angular-server]
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+    - uses: actions/checkout@08c6903cd8c0fde910a37f88322edcfb5dd907a8 # v5.0.0
     - uses: ./.github/workflows/actions/test-angular-e2e
       with:
         app: ${{ matrix.apps }}
@@ -162,14 +162,14 @@ jobs:
     needs: [build-core]
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+    - uses: actions/checkout@08c6903cd8c0fde910a37f88322edcfb5dd907a8 # v5.0.0
     - uses: ./.github/workflows/actions/build-react
 
   build-react-router:
     needs: [build-react]
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+    - uses: actions/checkout@08c6903cd8c0fde910a37f88322edcfb5dd907a8 # v5.0.0
     - uses: ./.github/workflows/actions/build-react-router
 
   test-react-router-e2e:
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ jobs:
     needs: [build-react, build-react-router]
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+    - uses: actions/checkout@08c6903cd8c0fde910a37f88322edcfb5dd907a8 # v5.0.0
     - uses: ./.github/workflows/actions/test-react-router-e2e
       with:
         app: ${{ matrix.apps }}
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ jobs:
     needs: [build-react, build-react-router]
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+    - uses: actions/checkout@08c6903cd8c0fde910a37f88322edcfb5dd907a8 # v5.0.0
     - uses: ./.github/workflows/actions/test-react-e2e
       with:
         app: ${{ matrix.apps }}

.github/workflows/codeql-analysis.yml

@@ -14,8 +14,8 @@ jobs:
     permissions:
       security-events: write
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v5
-      - uses: github/codeql-action/init@v3
+      - uses: actions/checkout@08c6903cd8c0fde910a37f88322edcfb5dd907a8 # v5.0.0
+      - uses: github/codeql-action/init@v4
         with:
           languages: javascript
-      - uses: github/codeql-action/analyze@v3
+      - uses: github/codeql-action/analyze@v4

.github/workflows/dev-build.yml

@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ jobs:
     outputs:
       dev-hash: ${{ steps.create-dev-hash.outputs.DEV_HASH }}
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+      - uses: actions/checkout@08c6903cd8c0fde910a37f88322edcfb5dd907a8 # v5.0.0
       # A 1 is required before the timestamp
       # as lerna will fail when there is a leading 0
       # See https://github.com/lerna/lerna/issues/2840
@@ -30,8 +30,6 @@ jobs:
     with:
       tag: dev
       version: ${{ needs.create-dev-hash.outputs.dev-hash }}
-    secrets:
-      NPM_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.NPM_TOKEN }}
 
   get-build:
     name: Get your dev build!

.github/workflows/label.yml

@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ jobs:
   triage:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-    - uses: actions/labeler@v5
+    - uses: actions/labeler@v6
       with:
         repo-token: "${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}"
         sync-labels: true

.github/workflows/nightly.yml

@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ jobs:
     outputs:
       nightly-hash: ${{ steps.create-nightly-hash.outputs.NIGHTLY_HASH }}
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+      - uses: actions/checkout@08c6903cd8c0fde910a37f88322edcfb5dd907a8 # v5.0.0
       # A 1 is required before the timestamp
       # as lerna will fail when there is a leading 0
       # See https://github.com/lerna/lerna/issues/2840
@@ -35,5 +35,3 @@ jobs:
     with:
       tag: nightly
       version: ${{ needs.create-nightly-hash.outputs.nightly-hash }}
-    secrets:
-      NPM_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.NPM_TOKEN }}

.github/workflows/release-ionic.yml

@@ -14,15 +14,16 @@ on:
       preid:
         description: 'The prerelease identifier used when doing a prerelease.'
         type: string
-    secrets:
-      NPM_TOKEN:
-        required: true
+
+permissions:
+  contents: read
+  id-token: write
 
 jobs:
   release-core:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+    - uses: actions/checkout@08c6903cd8c0fde910a37f88322edcfb5dd907a8 # v5.0.0
     - uses: ./.github/workflows/actions/publish-npm
       with:
         scope: '@ionic/core'
@@ -30,7 +31,6 @@ jobs:
         version: ${{ inputs.version }}
         preid: ${{ inputs.preid }}
         working-directory: 'core'
-        token: ${{ secrets.NPM_TOKEN }}
     - name: Cache Built @ionic/core
       uses: ./.github/workflows/actions/upload-archive
       with:
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ jobs:
     needs: [release-core]
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+    - uses: actions/checkout@08c6903cd8c0fde910a37f88322edcfb5dd907a8 # v5.0.0
     - name: Restore @ionic/docs built cache
       uses: ./.github/workflows/actions/download-archive
       with:
@@ -62,13 +62,12 @@ jobs:
         version: ${{ inputs.version }}
         preid: ${{ inputs.preid }}
         working-directory: 'packages/docs'
-        token: ${{ secrets.NPM_TOKEN }}
 
   release-angular:
     needs: [release-core]
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+    - uses: actions/checkout@08c6903cd8c0fde910a37f88322edcfb5dd907a8 # v5.0.0
     - name: Restore @ionic/core built cache
       uses: ./.github/workflows/actions/download-archive
       with:
@@ -83,7 +82,6 @@ jobs:
         preid: ${{ inputs.preid }}
         working-directory: 'packages/angular'
         folder: './dist'
-        token: ${{ secrets.NPM_TOKEN }}
     - name: Cache Built @ionic/angular
       uses: ./.github/workflows/actions/upload-archive
       with:
@@ -95,7 +93,7 @@ jobs:
     needs: [release-core]
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+    - uses: actions/checkout@08c6903cd8c0fde910a37f88322edcfb5dd907a8 # v5.0.0
     - name: Restore @ionic/core built cache
       uses: ./.github/workflows/actions/download-archive
       with:
@@ -109,7 +107,6 @@ jobs:
         version: ${{ inputs.version }}
         preid: ${{ inputs.preid }}
         working-directory: 'packages/react'
-        token: ${{ secrets.NPM_TOKEN }}
     - name: Cache Built @ionic/react
       uses: ./.github/workflows/actions/upload-archive
       with:
@@ -121,7 +118,7 @@ jobs:
     needs: [release-core]
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+    - uses: actions/checkout@08c6903cd8c0fde910a37f88322edcfb5dd907a8 # v5.0.0
     - name: Restore @ionic/core built cache
       uses: ./.github/workflows/actions/download-archive
       with:
@@ -135,7 +132,6 @@ jobs:
         version: ${{ inputs.version }}
         preid: ${{ inputs.preid }}
         working-directory: 'packages/vue'
-        token: ${{ secrets.NPM_TOKEN }}
     - name: Cache Built @ionic/vue
       uses: ./.github/workflows/actions/upload-archive
       with:
@@ -147,7 +143,7 @@ jobs:
     needs: [release-core]
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+    - uses: actions/checkout@08c6903cd8c0fde910a37f88322edcfb5dd907a8 # v5.0.0
     - name: Restore @ionic/core built cache
       uses: ./.github/workflows/actions/download-archive
       with:
@@ -162,13 +158,12 @@ jobs:
         preid: ${{ inputs.preid }}
         working-directory: 'packages/angular-server'
         folder: './dist'
-        token: ${{ secrets.NPM_TOKEN }}
 
   release-react-router:
     needs: [release-react]
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+    - uses: actions/checkout@08c6903cd8c0fde910a37f88322edcfb5dd907a8 # v5.0.0
     - name: Restore @ionic/core built cache
       uses: ./.github/workflows/actions/download-archive
       with:
@@ -188,13 +183,12 @@ jobs:
         version: ${{ inputs.version }}
         preid: ${{ inputs.preid }}
         working-directory: 'packages/react-router'
-        token: ${{ secrets.NPM_TOKEN }}
 
   release-vue-router:
     needs: [release-vue]
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+    - uses: actions/checkout@08c6903cd8c0fde910a37f88322edcfb5dd907a8 # v5.0.0
     - name: Restore @ionic/core built cache
       uses: ./.github/workflows/actions/download-archive
       with:
@@ -214,4 +208,3 @@ jobs:
         version: ${{ inputs.version }}
         preid: ${{ inputs.preid }}
         working-directory: 'packages/vue-router'
-        token: ${{ secrets.NPM_TOKEN }}

.github/workflows/release.yml

@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ on:
       preid:
         type: choice
         description: Which prerelease identifier should be used? This is only needed when version is "prepatch", "preminor", "premajor", or "prerelease".
+        default: ''
         options:
           - ''
           - alpha
@@ -35,20 +36,19 @@ on:
 jobs:
   release-ionic:
     permissions:
+      contents: read
       id-token: write
     uses: ./.github/workflows/release-ionic.yml
     with:
       tag: ${{ inputs.tag }}
       version: ${{ inputs.version }}
       preid: ${{ inputs.preid }}
-    secrets:
-      NPM_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.NPM_TOKEN }}
 
   finalize-release:
     needs: [release-ionic]
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+    - uses: actions/checkout@08c6903cd8c0fde910a37f88322edcfb5dd907a8 # v5.0.0
       with:
         token: ${{ secrets.IONITRON_TOKEN }}
         fetch-depth: 0
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ jobs:
     needs: [finalize-release]
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+      - uses: actions/checkout@08c6903cd8c0fde910a37f88322edcfb5dd907a8 # v5.0.0
         # Pull the latest version of the reference
         # branch instead of the revision that triggered
         # the workflow otherwise we won't get the commit

.github/workflows/stencil-nightly.yml

@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ jobs:
   build-core-with-stencil-nightly:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+      - uses: actions/checkout@08c6903cd8c0fde910a37f88322edcfb5dd907a8 # v5.0.0
       - uses: ./.github/workflows/actions/build-core-stencil-prerelease
         with:
           stencil-version: ${{ inputs.npm_release_tag || 'nightly' }}
@@ -35,21 +35,21 @@ jobs:
     needs: [build-core-with-stencil-nightly]
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+      - uses: actions/checkout@08c6903cd8c0fde910a37f88322edcfb5dd907a8 # v5.0.0
       - uses: ./.github/workflows/actions/test-core-clean-build
 
   test-core-lint:
     needs: [build-core-with-stencil-nightly]
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+      - uses: actions/checkout@08c6903cd8c0fde910a37f88322edcfb5dd907a8 # v5.0.0
       - uses: ./.github/workflows/actions/test-core-lint
 
   test-core-spec:
     needs: [build-core-with-stencil-nightly]
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+      - uses: actions/checkout@08c6903cd8c0fde910a37f88322edcfb5dd907a8 # v5.0.0
       - uses: ./.github/workflows/actions/test-core-spec
         with:
           stencil-version: ${{ inputs.npm_release_tag || 'nightly' }}
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ jobs:
     needs: [build-core-with-stencil-nightly]
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+      - uses: actions/checkout@08c6903cd8c0fde910a37f88322edcfb5dd907a8 # v5.0.0
       - uses: ./.github/workflows/actions/test-core-screenshot
         with:
           shard: ${{ matrix.shard }}
@@ -100,14 +100,14 @@ jobs:
     needs: [build-core-with-stencil-nightly]
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+    - uses: actions/checkout@08c6903cd8c0fde910a37f88322edcfb5dd907a8 # v5.0.0
     - uses: ./.github/workflows/actions/build-vue
 
   build-vue-router:
     needs: [build-vue]
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+    - uses: actions/checkout@08c6903cd8c0fde910a37f88322edcfb5dd907a8 # v5.0.0
     - uses: ./.github/workflows/actions/build-vue-router
 
   test-vue-e2e:
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ jobs:
     needs: [build-vue, build-vue-router]
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+    - uses: actions/checkout@08c6903cd8c0fde910a37f88322edcfb5dd907a8 # v5.0.0
     - uses: ./.github/workflows/actions/test-vue-e2e
       with:
         app: ${{ matrix.apps }}
@@ -136,14 +136,14 @@ jobs:
     needs: [build-core-with-stencil-nightly]
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+    - uses: actions/checkout@08c6903cd8c0fde910a37f88322edcfb5dd907a8 # v5.0.0
     - uses: ./.github/workflows/actions/build-angular
 
   build-angular-server:
     needs: [build-core-with-stencil-nightly]
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+    - uses: actions/checkout@08c6903cd8c0fde910a37f88322edcfb5dd907a8 # v5.0.0
     - uses: ./.github/workflows/actions/build-angular-server
 
   test-angular-e2e:
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ jobs:
     needs: [build-angular, build-angular-server]
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+    - uses: actions/checkout@08c6903cd8c0fde910a37f88322edcfb5dd907a8 # v5.0.0
     - uses: ./.github/workflows/actions/test-angular-e2e
       with:
         app: ${{ matrix.apps }}
@@ -172,14 +172,14 @@ jobs:
     needs: [build-core-with-stencil-nightly]
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+    - uses: actions/checkout@08c6903cd8c0fde910a37f88322edcfb5dd907a8 # v5.0.0
     - uses: ./.github/workflows/actions/build-react
 
   build-react-router:
     needs: [build-react]
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+    - uses: actions/checkout@08c6903cd8c0fde910a37f88322edcfb5dd907a8 # v5.0.0
     - uses: ./.github/workflows/actions/build-react-router
 
   test-react-router-e2e:
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ jobs:
     needs: [build-react, build-react-router]
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+    - uses: actions/checkout@08c6903cd8c0fde910a37f88322edcfb5dd907a8 # v5.0.0
     - uses: ./.github/workflows/actions/test-react-router-e2e
       with:
         app: ${{ matrix.apps }}
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ jobs:
     needs: [build-react, build-react-router]
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+    - uses: actions/checkout@08c6903cd8c0fde910a37f88322edcfb5dd907a8 # v5.0.0
     - uses: ./.github/workflows/actions/test-react-e2e
       with:
         app: ${{ matrix.apps }}
@@ -225,3 +225,35 @@ jobs:
       - name: Check build matrix status
         if: ${{ needs.test-react-e2e.result != 'success' }}
         run: exit 1
+
+  send-success-messages:
+    needs: [test-core-clean-build, test-core-lint, test-core-spec, verify-screenshots, verify-test-vue-e2e, verify-test-angular-e2e, verify-test-react-router-e2e, verify-test-react-e2e]
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    if: ${{ !cancelled() && contains(needs.*.result, 'success') }}
+    steps:
+      - name: Notify success on Discord
+        run: |
+          curl -H "Content-Type:application/json" \
+          -d '{"embeds": [{"title": "✅ Workflow ${{github.workflow}} #${{github.run_number}} finished successfully", "color": 65280, "url": "${{github.server_url}}/${{github.repository}}/actions/runs/${{github.run_id}}"}]}' \
+          ${{secrets.DISCORD_NOTIFY_WEBHOOK}}
+      - name: Notify success on Slack
+        run: |
+          curl -H "Content-Type:application/json" \
+          -d '{"title": "✅ Workflow ${{github.workflow}} #${{github.run_number}} finished successfully", "url": "${{github.server_url}}/${{github.repository}}/actions/runs/${{github.run_id}}"}' \
+          ${{secrets.SLACK_NOTIFY_SUCCESS_WEBHOOK}}
+
+  send-failure-messages:
+    needs: [test-core-clean-build, test-core-lint, test-core-spec, verify-screenshots, verify-test-vue-e2e, verify-test-angular-e2e, verify-test-react-router-e2e, verify-test-react-e2e]
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    if: ${{ !cancelled() && contains(needs.*.result, 'failure') }}
+    steps:
+      - name: Notify failure on Discord
+        run: |
+          curl -H "Content-Type:application/json" \
+          -d '{"content": "Alerting <@&1347593178580254761>!", "embeds": [{"title": "❌ Workflow ${{github.workflow}} #${{github.run_number}} failed", "color": 16711680, "url": "${{github.server_url}}/${{github.repository}}/actions/runs/${{github.run_id}}"}]}' \
+          ${{secrets.DISCORD_NOTIFY_WEBHOOK}}
+      - name: Notify failure on Slack
+        run: |
+          curl -H "Content-Type:application/json" \
+          -d '{"title": "❌ Workflow ${{github.workflow}} #${{github.run_number}} failed", "url": "${{github.server_url}}/${{github.repository}}/actions/runs/${{github.run_id}}"}' \
+          ${{secrets.SLACK_NOTIFY_FAILURE_WEBHOOK}}

.github/workflows/update-screenshots.yml

@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ jobs:
   build-core:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+      - uses: actions/checkout@08c6903cd8c0fde910a37f88322edcfb5dd907a8 # v5.0.0
       - uses: ./.github/workflows/actions/build-core
 
   test-core-screenshot:
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ jobs:
     needs: [build-core]
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+      - uses: actions/checkout@08c6903cd8c0fde910a37f88322edcfb5dd907a8 # v5.0.0
       - uses: ./.github/workflows/actions/test-core-screenshot
         with:
           shard: ${{ matrix.shard }}
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     needs: [test-core-screenshot]
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+      - uses: actions/checkout@08c6903cd8c0fde910a37f88322edcfb5dd907a8 # v5.0.0
         # Normally, we could just push with the
         # default GITHUB_TOKEN, but that will
         # not cause the build workflow

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -3,6 +3,77 @@
 All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 See [Conventional Commits](https://conventionalcommits.org) for commit guidelines.
 
+## [8.7.9](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/compare/v8.7.8...v8.7.9) (2025-11-05)
+
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+* **accordion-group:** skip initial animation ([#30729](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/issues/30729)) ([58d5638](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/commit/58d563805fca1db88caeeb40a8f710ac30416d93)), closes [#30613](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/issues/30613)
+
+
+
+
+
+## [8.7.8](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/compare/v8.7.7...v8.7.8) (2025-10-29)
+
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+* **checkbox, toggle:** fire ionFocus and ionBlur ([#30733](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/issues/30733)) ([54a1c86](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/commit/54a1c86d6a5d533b0c8c2d18edc62454a7c17bab))
+
+
+
+
+
+## [8.7.7](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/compare/v8.7.6...v8.7.7) (2025-10-15)
+
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+* **header:** ensure one banner role in condensed header ([#30718](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/issues/30718)) ([12084af](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/commit/12084af163ed811b9c6bda3c7850fc0c53c60c7b))
+* **header:** prevent flickering during iOS page transitions ([#30705](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/issues/30705)) ([820fa28](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/commit/820fa2854331722d22efd0e38a1936117477967a)), closes [#25326](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/issues/25326)
+* **select:** improve screen reader announcement timing for validation errors ([#30723](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/issues/30723)) ([03303d7](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/commit/03303d73f0bfe2380ced7931525fc52fd8576367))
+
+
+
+
+
+## [8.7.6](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/compare/v8.7.5...v8.7.6) (2025-10-08)
+
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+* **tabs:** respect stencil lifecycle order for tab selection ([#30702](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/issues/30702)) ([7bb9535](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/commit/7bb9535f601d2469ce60687a9c03f8b1cfe4aba4)), closes [#30611](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/issues/30611)
+
+
+
+
+
+## [8.7.5](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/compare/v8.7.4...v8.7.5) (2025-09-24)
+
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+* **modal:** allow sheet modals to skip focus trap ([#30689](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/issues/30689)) ([a40d957](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/commit/a40d957ad9c1897af365a91b45b00228a00d614c)), closes [#30684](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/issues/30684)
+* **vue:** emit component-specific overlay events ([#30688](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/issues/30688)) ([024d090](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/commit/024d090122548e26ec2cdcfae4637dde8f288278)), closes [#30641](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/issues/30641)
+
+
+
+
+
+## [8.7.4](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/compare/v8.7.3...v8.7.4) (2025-09-17)
+
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+* **input:** improve error text accessibility ([#30635](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/issues/30635)) ([c339bc3](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/commit/c339bc36827b62ef871325869a9a5db9b17ac785))
+* **overlays,picker:** remove invalid aria-hidden attribute ([#30563](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/issues/30563)) ([49f96d7](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/commit/49f96d7f1e9050a95e3e33a821c0467ecc0bed64)), closes [#30040](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/issues/30040)
+* **segment-view:** scroll and select the right item when the component is in RTL context; ([#30675](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/issues/30675)) ([66f517d](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/commit/66f517d5b2154fff00b294a78f4107f057a580c6)), closes [#30079](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/issues/30079)
+
+
+
+
+
 ## [8.7.3](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/compare/v8.7.2...v8.7.3) (2025-08-20)
 
 

core/CHANGELOG.md

@@ -3,6 +3,76 @@
 All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 See [Conventional Commits](https://conventionalcommits.org) for commit guidelines.
 
+## [8.7.9](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/compare/v8.7.8...v8.7.9) (2025-11-05)
+
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+* **accordion-group:** skip initial animation ([#30729](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/issues/30729)) ([58d5638](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/commit/58d563805fca1db88caeeb40a8f710ac30416d93)), closes [#30613](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/issues/30613)
+
+
+
+
+
+## [8.7.8](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/compare/v8.7.7...v8.7.8) (2025-10-29)
+
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+* **checkbox, toggle:** fire ionFocus and ionBlur ([#30733](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/issues/30733)) ([54a1c86](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/commit/54a1c86d6a5d533b0c8c2d18edc62454a7c17bab))
+
+
+
+
+
+## [8.7.7](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/compare/v8.7.6...v8.7.7) (2025-10-15)
+
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+* **header:** ensure one banner role in condensed header ([#30718](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/issues/30718)) ([12084af](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/commit/12084af163ed811b9c6bda3c7850fc0c53c60c7b))
+* **header:** prevent flickering during iOS page transitions ([#30705](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/issues/30705)) ([820fa28](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/commit/820fa2854331722d22efd0e38a1936117477967a)), closes [#25326](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/issues/25326)
+* **select:** improve screen reader announcement timing for validation errors ([#30723](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/issues/30723)) ([03303d7](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/commit/03303d73f0bfe2380ced7931525fc52fd8576367))
+
+
+
+
+
+## [8.7.6](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/compare/v8.7.5...v8.7.6) (2025-10-08)
+
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+* **tabs:** respect stencil lifecycle order for tab selection ([#30702](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/issues/30702)) ([7bb9535](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/commit/7bb9535f601d2469ce60687a9c03f8b1cfe4aba4)), closes [#30611](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/issues/30611)
+
+
+
+
+
+## [8.7.5](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/compare/v8.7.4...v8.7.5) (2025-09-24)
+
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+* **modal:** allow sheet modals to skip focus trap ([#30689](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/issues/30689)) ([a40d957](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/commit/a40d957ad9c1897af365a91b45b00228a00d614c)), closes [#30684](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/issues/30684)
+
+
+
+
+
+## [8.7.4](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/compare/v8.7.3...v8.7.4) (2025-09-17)
+
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+* **input:** improve error text accessibility ([#30635](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/issues/30635)) ([c339bc3](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/commit/c339bc36827b62ef871325869a9a5db9b17ac785))
+* **overlays,picker:** remove invalid aria-hidden attribute ([#30563](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/issues/30563)) ([49f96d7](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/commit/49f96d7f1e9050a95e3e33a821c0467ecc0bed64)), closes [#30040](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/issues/30040)
+* **segment-view:** scroll and select the right item when the component is in RTL context; ([#30675](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/issues/30675)) ([66f517d](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/commit/66f517d5b2154fff00b294a78f4107f057a580c6)), closes [#30079](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/issues/30079)
+
+
+
+
+
 ## [8.7.3](https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/compare/v8.7.2...v8.7.3) (2025-08-20)
 
 

core/Dockerfile

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # Get Playwright
-FROM mcr.microsoft.com/playwright:v1.55.0
+FROM mcr.microsoft.com/playwright:v1.56.1
 
 # Set the working directory
 WORKDIR /ionic

core/package-lock.json

@@ -1,20 +1,20 @@
 {
   "name": "@ionic/core",
-  "version": "8.7.3",
+  "version": "8.7.9",
   "lockfileVersion": 2,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "@ionic/core",
-      "version": "8.7.3",
+      "version": "8.7.9",
       "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
-        "@stencil/core": "4.36.2",
+        "@stencil/core": "4.38.0",
         "ionicons": "^8.0.13",
         "tslib": "^2.1.0"
       },
       "devDependencies": {
-        "@axe-core/playwright": "^4.10.2",
+        "@axe-core/playwright": "^4.11.0",
         "@capacitor/core": "^7.0.0",
         "@capacitor/haptics": "^7.0.0",
         "@capacitor/keyboard": "^7.0.0",
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
         "@clack/prompts": "^0.11.0",
         "@ionic/eslint-config": "^0.3.0",
         "@ionic/prettier-config": "^2.0.0",
-        "@playwright/test": "^1.55.0",
+        "@playwright/test": "^1.56.1",
         "@rollup/plugin-node-resolve": "^8.4.0",
         "@rollup/plugin-virtual": "^2.0.3",
         "@stencil/angular-output-target": "^0.10.0",
@@ -57,12 +57,12 @@
       "dev": true
     },
     "node_modules/@axe-core/playwright": {
-      "version": "4.10.2",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@axe-core/playwright/-/playwright-4.10.2.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-6/b5BJjG6hDaRNtgzLIfKr5DfwyiLHO4+ByTLB0cJgWSM8Ll7KqtdblIS6bEkwSF642/Ex91vNqIl3GLXGlceg==",
+      "version": "4.11.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@axe-core/playwright/-/playwright-4.11.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-70vBT/Ylqpm65RQz2iCG2o0JJCEG/WCNyefTr2xcOcr1CoSee60gNQYUMZZ7YukoKkFLv26I/jjlsvwwp532oQ==",
       "dev": true,
       "dependencies": {
-        "axe-core": "~4.10.3"
+        "axe-core": "~4.11.0"
       },
       "peerDependencies": {
         "playwright-core": ">= 1.0.0"
@@ -663,9 +663,9 @@
       "dev": true
     },
     "node_modules/@capacitor/core": {
-      "version": "7.4.3",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@capacitor/core/-/core-7.4.3.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-wCWr8fQ9Wxn0466vPg7nMn0tivbNVjNy1yL4GvDSIZuZx7UpU2HeVGNe9QjN/quEd+YLRFeKEBLBw619VqUiNg==",
+      "version": "7.4.4",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@capacitor/core/-/core-7.4.4.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-xzjxpr+d2zwTpCaN0k+C6wKSZzWFAb9OVEUtmO72ihjr/NEDoLvsGl4WLfjWPcCO2zOy0b2X52tfRWjECFUjtw==",
       "dev": true,
       "dependencies": {
         "tslib": "^2.1.0"
@@ -681,18 +681,18 @@
       }
     },
     "node_modules/@capacitor/keyboard": {
-      "version": "7.0.2",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@capacitor/keyboard/-/keyboard-7.0.2.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-9We5BY1mu+QWOReDukr+6HxA4Bh0mKBU0txFtwXJdjBohttMYWJzB+dQf4oHrX8odiU2Cm/BfDdAU2wV06Cyig==",
+      "version": "7.0.3",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@capacitor/keyboard/-/keyboard-7.0.3.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-BIBKjmky5rOYNhvYhNeDi0MMvjwYZ6YF9JoCYcGKvKY+XLJKtezsEL78XfOlgWZBkbfR8uq3tzktY6PqgoYLKA==",
       "dev": true,
       "peerDependencies": {
         "@capacitor/core": ">=7.0.0"
       }
     },
     "node_modules/@capacitor/status-bar": {
-      "version": "7.0.2",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@capacitor/status-bar/-/status-bar-7.0.2.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-fYYkkdzCbQV+MjZVnaQTFl5I4bddnFW8ZrPVxDjNoGVPTUG7H58Ij1+NcuNxHLXjJvZOoZeYJ3w3I16Wb2zssw==",
+      "version": "7.0.3",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@capacitor/status-bar/-/status-bar-7.0.3.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-JyRpVnKwHij9hgPWolF6PK+HT3e2HSPjN11/h2OmKxq8GAdPGARFLv+97eZl0pvuvm0Kka/LpiLb5whXISBg7Q==",
       "dev": true,
       "peerDependencies": {
         "@capacitor/core": ">=7.0.0"
@@ -1715,12 +1715,12 @@
       }
     },
     "node_modules/@playwright/test": {
-      "version": "1.55.0",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@playwright/test/-/test-1.55.0.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-04IXzPwHrW69XusN/SIdDdKZBzMfOT9UNT/YiJit/xpy2VuAoB8NHc8Aplb96zsWDddLnbkPL3TsmrS04ZU2xQ==",
+      "version": "1.56.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@playwright/test/-/test-1.56.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-vSMYtL/zOcFpvJCW71Q/OEGQb7KYBPAdKh35WNSkaZA75JlAO8ED8UN6GUNTm3drWomcbcqRPFqQbLae8yBTdg==",
       "dev": true,
       "dependencies": {
-        "playwright": "1.55.0"
+        "playwright": "1.56.1"
       },
       "bin": {
         "playwright": "cli.js"
@@ -1914,10 +1914,9 @@
       }
     },
     "node_modules/@stencil/core": {
-      "version": "4.36.2",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@stencil/core/-/core-4.36.2.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-PRFSpxNzX9Oi0Wfh02asztN9Sgev/MacfZwmd+VVyE6ZxW+a/kEpAYZhzGAmE+/aKVOGYuug7R9SulanYGxiDQ==",
-      "license": "MIT",
+      "version": "4.38.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@stencil/core/-/core-4.38.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-oC3QFKO0X1yXVvETgc8OLY525MNKhn9vISBrbtKnGoPlokJ6rI8Vk1RK22TevnNrHLI4SExNLbcDnqilKR35JQ==",
       "bin": {
         "stencil": "bin/stencil"
       },
@@ -3034,9 +3033,9 @@
       }
     },
     "node_modules/axe-core": {
-      "version": "4.10.3",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/axe-core/-/axe-core-4.10.3.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-Xm7bpRXnDSX2YE2YFfBk2FnF0ep6tmG7xPh8iHee8MIcrgq762Nkce856dYtJYLkuIoYZvGfTs/PbZhideTcEg==",
+      "version": "4.11.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/axe-core/-/axe-core-4.11.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-ilYanEU8vxxBexpJd8cWM4ElSQq4QctCLKih0TSfjIfCQTeyH/6zVrmIJfLPrKTKJRbiG+cfnZbQIjAlJmF1jQ==",
       "dev": true,
       "engines": {
         "node": ">=4"
@@ -3474,9 +3473,9 @@
       ]
     },
     "node_modules/chalk": {
-      "version": "5.6.0",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/chalk/-/chalk-5.6.0.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-46QrSQFyVSEyYAgQ22hQ+zDa60YHA4fBstHmtSApj1Y5vKtG27fWowW03jCk5KcbXEWPZUIR894aARCA/G1kfQ==",
+      "version": "5.6.2",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/chalk/-/chalk-5.6.2.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-7NzBL0rN6fMUW+f7A6Io4h40qQlG+xGmtMxfbnH/K7TAtt8JQWVQK+6g0UXKMeVJoyV5EkkNsErQ8pVD3bLHbA==",
       "dev": true,
       "engines": {
         "node": "^12.17.0 || ^14.13 || >=16.0.0"
@@ -8593,12 +8592,12 @@
       }
     },
     "node_modules/playwright": {
-      "version": "1.55.0",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/playwright/-/playwright-1.55.0.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-sdCWStblvV1YU909Xqx0DhOjPZE4/5lJsIS84IfN9dAZfcl/CIZ5O8l3o0j7hPMjDvqoTF8ZUcc+i/GL5erstA==",
+      "version": "1.56.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/playwright/-/playwright-1.56.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-aFi5B0WovBHTEvpM3DzXTUaeN6eN0qWnTkKx4NQaH4Wvcmc153PdaY2UBdSYKaGYw+UyWXSVyxDUg5DoPEttjw==",
       "dev": true,
       "dependencies": {
-        "playwright-core": "1.55.0"
+        "playwright-core": "1.56.1"
       },
       "bin": {
         "playwright": "cli.js"
@@ -8611,9 +8610,9 @@
       }
     },
     "node_modules/playwright-core": {
-      "version": "1.55.0",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/playwright-core/-/playwright-core-1.55.0.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-GvZs4vU3U5ro2nZpeiwyb0zuFaqb9sUiAJuyrWpcGouD8y9/HLgGbNRjIph7zU9D3hnPaisMl9zG9CgFi/biIg==",
+      "version": "1.56.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/playwright-core/-/playwright-core-1.56.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-hutraynyn31F+Bifme+Ps9Vq59hKuUCz7H1kDOcBs+2oGguKkWTU50bBWrtz34OUWmIwpBTWDxaRPXrIXkgvmQ==",
       "dev": true,
       "bin": {
         "playwright-core": "cli.js"
@@ -10653,12 +10652,12 @@
   },
   "dependencies": {
     "@axe-core/playwright": {
-      "version": "4.10.2",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@axe-core/playwright/-/playwright-4.10.2.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-6/b5BJjG6hDaRNtgzLIfKr5DfwyiLHO4+ByTLB0cJgWSM8Ll7KqtdblIS6bEkwSF642/Ex91vNqIl3GLXGlceg==",
+      "version": "4.11.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@axe-core/playwright/-/playwright-4.11.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-70vBT/Ylqpm65RQz2iCG2o0JJCEG/WCNyefTr2xcOcr1CoSee60gNQYUMZZ7YukoKkFLv26I/jjlsvwwp532oQ==",
       "dev": true,
       "requires": {
-        "axe-core": "~4.10.3"
+        "axe-core": "~4.11.0"
       }
     },
     "@babel/code-frame": {
@@ -11102,9 +11101,9 @@
       "dev": true
     },
     "@capacitor/core": {
-      "version": "7.4.3",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@capacitor/core/-/core-7.4.3.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-wCWr8fQ9Wxn0466vPg7nMn0tivbNVjNy1yL4GvDSIZuZx7UpU2HeVGNe9QjN/quEd+YLRFeKEBLBw619VqUiNg==",
+      "version": "7.4.4",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@capacitor/core/-/core-7.4.4.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-xzjxpr+d2zwTpCaN0k+C6wKSZzWFAb9OVEUtmO72ihjr/NEDoLvsGl4WLfjWPcCO2zOy0b2X52tfRWjECFUjtw==",
       "dev": true,
       "requires": {
         "tslib": "^2.1.0"
@@ -11118,16 +11117,16 @@
       "requires": {}
     },
     "@capacitor/keyboard": {
-      "version": "7.0.2",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@capacitor/keyboard/-/keyboard-7.0.2.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-9We5BY1mu+QWOReDukr+6HxA4Bh0mKBU0txFtwXJdjBohttMYWJzB+dQf4oHrX8odiU2Cm/BfDdAU2wV06Cyig==",
+      "version": "7.0.3",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@capacitor/keyboard/-/keyboard-7.0.3.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-BIBKjmky5rOYNhvYhNeDi0MMvjwYZ6YF9JoCYcGKvKY+XLJKtezsEL78XfOlgWZBkbfR8uq3tzktY6PqgoYLKA==",
       "dev": true,
       "requires": {}
     },
     "@capacitor/status-bar": {
-      "version": "7.0.2",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@capacitor/status-bar/-/status-bar-7.0.2.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-fYYkkdzCbQV+MjZVnaQTFl5I4bddnFW8ZrPVxDjNoGVPTUG7H58Ij1+NcuNxHLXjJvZOoZeYJ3w3I16Wb2zssw==",
+      "version": "7.0.3",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@capacitor/status-bar/-/status-bar-7.0.3.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-JyRpVnKwHij9hgPWolF6PK+HT3e2HSPjN11/h2OmKxq8GAdPGARFLv+97eZl0pvuvm0Kka/LpiLb5whXISBg7Q==",
       "dev": true,
       "requires": {}
     },
@@ -11863,12 +11862,12 @@
       }
     },
     "@playwright/test": {
-      "version": "1.55.0",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@playwright/test/-/test-1.55.0.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-04IXzPwHrW69XusN/SIdDdKZBzMfOT9UNT/YiJit/xpy2VuAoB8NHc8Aplb96zsWDddLnbkPL3TsmrS04ZU2xQ==",
+      "version": "1.56.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@playwright/test/-/test-1.56.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-vSMYtL/zOcFpvJCW71Q/OEGQb7KYBPAdKh35WNSkaZA75JlAO8ED8UN6GUNTm3drWomcbcqRPFqQbLae8yBTdg==",
       "dev": true,
       "requires": {
-        "playwright": "1.55.0"
+        "playwright": "1.56.1"
       }
     },
     "@rollup/plugin-node-resolve": {
@@ -11984,9 +11983,9 @@
       "requires": {}
     },
     "@stencil/core": {
-      "version": "4.36.2",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@stencil/core/-/core-4.36.2.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-PRFSpxNzX9Oi0Wfh02asztN9Sgev/MacfZwmd+VVyE6ZxW+a/kEpAYZhzGAmE+/aKVOGYuug7R9SulanYGxiDQ==",
+      "version": "4.38.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@stencil/core/-/core-4.38.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-oC3QFKO0X1yXVvETgc8OLY525MNKhn9vISBrbtKnGoPlokJ6rI8Vk1RK22TevnNrHLI4SExNLbcDnqilKR35JQ==",
       "requires": {
         "@rollup/rollup-darwin-arm64": "4.34.9",
         "@rollup/rollup-darwin-x64": "4.34.9",
@@ -12771,9 +12770,9 @@
       }
     },
     "axe-core": {
-      "version": "4.10.3",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/axe-core/-/axe-core-4.10.3.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-Xm7bpRXnDSX2YE2YFfBk2FnF0ep6tmG7xPh8iHee8MIcrgq762Nkce856dYtJYLkuIoYZvGfTs/PbZhideTcEg==",
+      "version": "4.11.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/axe-core/-/axe-core-4.11.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-ilYanEU8vxxBexpJd8cWM4ElSQq4QctCLKih0TSfjIfCQTeyH/6zVrmIJfLPrKTKJRbiG+cfnZbQIjAlJmF1jQ==",
       "dev": true
     },
     "babel-jest": {
@@ -13076,9 +13075,9 @@
       "dev": true
     },
     "chalk": {
-      "version": "5.6.0",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/chalk/-/chalk-5.6.0.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-46QrSQFyVSEyYAgQ22hQ+zDa60YHA4fBstHmtSApj1Y5vKtG27fWowW03jCk5KcbXEWPZUIR894aARCA/G1kfQ==",
+      "version": "5.6.2",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/chalk/-/chalk-5.6.2.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-7NzBL0rN6fMUW+f7A6Io4h40qQlG+xGmtMxfbnH/K7TAtt8JQWVQK+6g0UXKMeVJoyV5EkkNsErQ8pVD3bLHbA==",
       "dev": true
     },
     "chalk-template": {
@@ -16812,19 +16811,19 @@
       }
     },
     "playwright": {
-      "version": "1.55.0",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/playwright/-/playwright-1.55.0.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-sdCWStblvV1YU909Xqx0DhOjPZE4/5lJsIS84IfN9dAZfcl/CIZ5O8l3o0j7hPMjDvqoTF8ZUcc+i/GL5erstA==",
+      "version": "1.56.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/playwright/-/playwright-1.56.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-aFi5B0WovBHTEvpM3DzXTUaeN6eN0qWnTkKx4NQaH4Wvcmc153PdaY2UBdSYKaGYw+UyWXSVyxDUg5DoPEttjw==",
       "dev": true,
       "requires": {
         "fsevents": "2.3.2",
-        "playwright-core": "1.55.0"
+        "playwright-core": "1.56.1"
       }
     },
     "playwright-core": {
-      "version": "1.55.0",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/playwright-core/-/playwright-core-1.55.0.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-GvZs4vU3U5ro2nZpeiwyb0zuFaqb9sUiAJuyrWpcGouD8y9/HLgGbNRjIph7zU9D3hnPaisMl9zG9CgFi/biIg==",
+      "version": "1.56.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/playwright-core/-/playwright-core-1.56.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-hutraynyn31F+Bifme+Ps9Vq59hKuUCz7H1kDOcBs+2oGguKkWTU50bBWrtz34OUWmIwpBTWDxaRPXrIXkgvmQ==",
       "dev": true
     },
     "postcss": {

core/package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@ionic/core",
-  "version": "8.7.3",
+  "version": "8.7.9",
   "description": "Base components for Ionic",
   "keywords": [
     "ionic",
@@ -31,12 +31,12 @@
     "loader/"
   ],
   "dependencies": {
-    "@stencil/core": "4.36.2",
+    "@stencil/core": "4.38.0",
     "ionicons": "^8.0.13",
     "tslib": "^2.1.0"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
-    "@axe-core/playwright": "^4.10.2",
+    "@axe-core/playwright": "^4.11.0",
     "@capacitor/core": "^7.0.0",
     "@capacitor/haptics": "^7.0.0",
     "@capacitor/keyboard": "^7.0.0",
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@
     "@clack/prompts": "^0.11.0",
     "@ionic/eslint-config": "^0.3.0",
     "@ionic/prettier-config": "^2.0.0",
-    "@playwright/test": "^1.55.0",
+    "@playwright/test": "^1.56.1",
     "@rollup/plugin-node-resolve": "^8.4.0",
     "@rollup/plugin-virtual": "^2.0.3",
     "@stencil/angular-output-target": "^0.10.0",

core/src/components/accordion/accordion.tsx

@@ -38,7 +38,40 @@ const enum AccordionState {
 })
 export class Accordion implements ComponentInterface {
   private accordionGroupEl?: HTMLIonAccordionGroupElement | null;
-  private updateListener = () => this.updateState(false);
+  private accordionGroupUpdateHandler = () => {
+    /**
+     * Determine if this update will cause an actual state change.
+     * We only want to mark as "interacted" if the state is changing.
+     */
+    const accordionGroup = this.accordionGroupEl;
+    if (accordionGroup) {
+      const value = accordionGroup.value;
+      const accordionValue = this.value;
+      const shouldExpand = Array.isArray(value) ? value.includes(accordionValue) : value === accordionValue;
+      const isExpanded = this.state === AccordionState.Expanded || this.state === AccordionState.Expanding;
+      const stateWillChange = shouldExpand !== isExpanded;
+
+      /**
+       * Only mark as interacted if:
+       * 1. This is not the first update we've received with a defined value
+       * 2. The state is actually changing (prevents redundant updates from enabling animations)
+       */
+      if (this.hasReceivedFirstUpdate && stateWillChange) {
+        this.hasInteracted = true;
+      }
+
+      /**
+       * Only count this as the first update if the group value is defined.
+       * This prevents the initial undefined value from the group's componentDidLoad
+       * from being treated as the first real update.
+       */
+      if (value !== undefined) {
+        this.hasReceivedFirstUpdate = true;
+      }
+    }
+
+    this.updateState();
+  };
   private contentEl: HTMLDivElement | undefined;
   private contentElWrapper: HTMLDivElement | undefined;
   private headerEl: HTMLDivElement | undefined;
@@ -50,6 +83,25 @@ export class Accordion implements ComponentInterface {
   @State() state: AccordionState = AccordionState.Collapsed;
   @State() isNext = false;
   @State() isPrevious = false;
+  /**
+   * Tracks whether a user-initiated interaction has occurred.
+   * Animations are disabled until the first interaction happens.
+   * This prevents the accordion from animating when it's programmatically
+   * set to an expanded or collapsed state on initial load.
+   */
+  @State() hasInteracted = false;
+
+  /**
+   * Tracks if this accordion has ever been expanded.
+   * Used to prevent the first expansion from animating.
+   */
+  private hasEverBeenExpanded = false;
+
+  /**
+   * Tracks if this accordion has received its first update from the group.
+   * Used to distinguish initial programmatic sets from user interactions.
+   */
+  private hasReceivedFirstUpdate = false;
 
   /**
    * The value of the accordion. Defaults to an autogenerated
@@ -88,15 +140,15 @@ export class Accordion implements ComponentInterface {
   connectedCallback() {
     const accordionGroupEl = (this.accordionGroupEl = this.el?.closest('ion-accordion-group'));
     if (accordionGroupEl) {
-      this.updateState(true);
-      addEventListener(accordionGroupEl, 'ionValueChange', this.updateListener);
+      this.updateState();
+      addEventListener(accordionGroupEl, 'ionValueChange', this.accordionGroupUpdateHandler);
     }
   }
 
   disconnectedCallback() {
     const accordionGroupEl = this.accordionGroupEl;
     if (accordionGroupEl) {
-      removeEventListener(accordionGroupEl, 'ionValueChange', this.updateListener);
+      removeEventListener(accordionGroupEl, 'ionValueChange', this.accordionGroupUpdateHandler);
     }
   }
 
@@ -212,10 +264,16 @@ export class Accordion implements ComponentInterface {
     ionItem.appendChild(iconEl);
   };
 
-  private expandAccordion = (initialUpdate = false) => {
+  private expandAccordion = () => {
     const { contentEl, contentElWrapper } = this;
-    if (initialUpdate || contentEl === undefined || contentElWrapper === undefined) {
+
+    /**
+     * If the content elements aren't available yet, just set the state.
+     * This happens on initial render before the DOM is ready.
+     */
+    if (contentEl === undefined || contentElWrapper === undefined) {
       this.state = AccordionState.Expanded;
+      this.hasEverBeenExpanded = true;
       return;
     }
 
@@ -227,6 +285,12 @@ export class Accordion implements ComponentInterface {
       cancelAnimationFrame(this.currentRaf);
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Mark that this accordion has been expanded at least once.
+     * This allows subsequent expansions to animate.
+     */
+    this.hasEverBeenExpanded = true;
+
     if (this.shouldAnimate()) {
       raf(() => {
         this.state = AccordionState.Expanding;
@@ -247,9 +311,14 @@ export class Accordion implements ComponentInterface {
     }
   };
 
-  private collapseAccordion = (initialUpdate = false) => {
+  private collapseAccordion = () => {
     const { contentEl } = this;
-    if (initialUpdate || contentEl === undefined) {
+
+    /**
+     * If the content element isn't available yet, just set the state.
+     * This happens on initial render before the DOM is ready.
+     */
+    if (contentEl === undefined) {
       this.state = AccordionState.Collapsed;
       return;
     }
@@ -291,6 +360,19 @@ export class Accordion implements ComponentInterface {
    * of what is set in the config.
    */
   private shouldAnimate = () => {
+    /**
+     * Don't animate until after the first user interaction.
+     * This prevents animations on initial load when accordions
+     * start in an expanded or collapsed state programmatically.
+     *
+     * Additionally, don't animate the very first expansion even if
+     * hasInteracted is true. This handles edge cases like React StrictMode
+     * where effects run twice and might incorrectly mark as interacted.
+     */
+    if (!this.hasInteracted || !this.hasEverBeenExpanded) {
+      return false;
+    }
+
     if (typeof (window as any) === 'undefined') {
       return false;
     }
@@ -312,7 +394,7 @@ export class Accordion implements ComponentInterface {
     return true;
   };
 
-  private updateState = async (initialUpdate = false) => {
+  private updateState = async () => {
     const accordionGroup = this.accordionGroupEl;
     const accordionValue = this.value;
 
@@ -325,10 +407,10 @@ export class Accordion implements ComponentInterface {
     const shouldExpand = Array.isArray(value) ? value.includes(accordionValue) : value === accordionValue;
 
     if (shouldExpand) {
-      this.expandAccordion(initialUpdate);
+      this.expandAccordion();
       this.isNext = this.isPrevious = false;
     } else {
-      this.collapseAccordion(initialUpdate);
+      this.collapseAccordion();
 
       /**
        * When using popout or inset,
@@ -386,6 +468,12 @@ export class Accordion implements ComponentInterface {
 
     if (disabled || readonly) return;
 
+    /**
+     * Mark that the user has interacted with the accordion.
+     * This enables animations for all future state changes.
+     */
+    this.hasInteracted = true;
+
     if (accordionGroupEl) {
       /**
        * Because the accordion group may or may

core/src/components/accordion/test/accordion.spec.ts

@@ -200,6 +200,87 @@ it('should set default values if not provided', async () => {
   expect(accordion.classList.contains('accordion-collapsed')).toEqual(false);
 });
 
+it('should not animate when initial value is set before load', async () => {
+  const page = await newSpecPage({
+    components: [Item, Accordion, AccordionGroup],
+  });
+
+  const accordionGroup = page.doc.createElement('ion-accordion-group');
+  accordionGroup.innerHTML = `
+    <ion-accordion value="first">
+      <ion-item slot="header">Label</ion-item>
+      <div slot="content">Content</div>
+    </ion-accordion>
+    <ion-accordion value="second">
+      <ion-item slot="header">Label</ion-item>
+      <div slot="content">Content</div>
+    </ion-accordion>
+  `;
+
+  accordionGroup.value = 'first';
+  page.body.appendChild(accordionGroup);
+
+  await page.waitForChanges();
+
+  const firstAccordion = accordionGroup.querySelector('ion-accordion[value="first"]')!;
+
+  expect(firstAccordion.classList.contains('accordion-expanded')).toEqual(true);
+  expect(firstAccordion.classList.contains('accordion-expanding')).toEqual(false);
+});
+
+it('should not animate when initial value is set after load', async () => {
+  const page = await newSpecPage({
+    components: [Item, Accordion, AccordionGroup],
+  });
+
+  const accordionGroup = page.doc.createElement('ion-accordion-group');
+  accordionGroup.innerHTML = `
+    <ion-accordion value="first">
+      <ion-item slot="header">Label</ion-item>
+      <div slot="content">Content</div>
+    </ion-accordion>
+    <ion-accordion value="second">
+      <ion-item slot="header">Label</ion-item>
+      <div slot="content">Content</div>
+    </ion-accordion>
+  `;
+
+  page.body.appendChild(accordionGroup);
+  await page.waitForChanges();
+
+  accordionGroup.value = 'first';
+  await page.waitForChanges();
+
+  const firstAccordion = accordionGroup.querySelector('ion-accordion[value="first"]')!;
+
+  expect(firstAccordion.classList.contains('accordion-expanded')).toEqual(true);
+  expect(firstAccordion.classList.contains('accordion-expanding')).toEqual(false);
+});
+
+it('should not have animated class on first expansion', async () => {
+  const page = await newSpecPage({
+    components: [Item, Accordion, AccordionGroup],
+    html: `
+      <ion-accordion-group>
+        <ion-accordion value="first">
+          <ion-item slot="header">Label</ion-item>
+          <div slot="content">Content</div>
+        </ion-accordion>
+      </ion-accordion-group>
+    `,
+  });
+
+  const accordionGroup = page.body.querySelector('ion-accordion-group')!;
+  const firstAccordion = page.body.querySelector('ion-accordion[value="first"]')!;
+
+  // First expansion should not have the animated class
+  accordionGroup.value = 'first';
+  await page.waitForChanges();
+
+  expect(firstAccordion.classList.contains('accordion-animated')).toEqual(false);
+  expect(firstAccordion.classList.contains('accordion-expanded')).toEqual(true);
+});
+
 // Verifies fix for https://github.com/ionic-team/ionic-framework/issues/27047
 it('should not have animated class when animated="false"', async () => {
   const page = await newSpecPage({

core/src/components/button/button.tsx

@@ -361,11 +361,7 @@ export class Button implements ComponentInterface, AnchorInterface, ButtonInterf
             target,
           };
     let fill = this.fill;
-    /**
-     * We check both undefined and null to
-     * work around https://github.com/ionic-team/stencil/issues/3586.
-     */
-    if (fill == null) {
+    if (fill === undefined) {
       fill = this.inToolbar || this.inListHeader ? 'clear' : 'solid';
     }
 

core/src/components/checkbox/checkbox.tsx

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import type { ComponentInterface, EventEmitter } from '@stencil/core';
-import { Component, Element, Event, Host, Method, Prop, h } from '@stencil/core';
+import { Build, Component, Element, Event, Host, Method, Prop, State, h } from '@stencil/core';
+import { checkInvalidState } from '@utils/forms';
 import type { Attributes } from '@utils/helpers';
 import { inheritAriaAttributes, renderHiddenInput } from '@utils/helpers';
 import { createColorClasses, hostContext } from '@utils/theme';
@@ -34,8 +35,8 @@ export class Checkbox implements ComponentInterface {
   private inputLabelId = `${this.inputId}-lbl`;
   private helperTextId = `${this.inputId}-helper-text`;
   private errorTextId = `${this.inputId}-error-text`;
-  private focusEl?: HTMLElement;
   private inheritedAttributes: Attributes = {};
+  private validationObserver?: MutationObserver;
 
   @Element() el!: HTMLIonCheckboxElement;
 
@@ -121,6 +122,13 @@ export class Checkbox implements ComponentInterface {
    */
   @Prop() required = false;
 
+  /**
+   * Track validation state for proper aria-live announcements.
+   */
+  @State() isInvalid = false;
+
+  @State() private hintTextId?: string;
+
   /**
    * Emitted when the checked property has changed as a result of a user action such as a click.
    *
@@ -138,18 +146,69 @@ export class Checkbox implements ComponentInterface {
    */
   @Event() ionBlur!: EventEmitter<void>;
 
+  connectedCallback() {
+    const { el } = this;
+
+    // Watch for class changes to update validation state.
+    if (Build.isBrowser && typeof MutationObserver !== 'undefined') {
+      this.validationObserver = new MutationObserver(() => {
+        const newIsInvalid = checkInvalidState(el);
+        if (this.isInvalid !== newIsInvalid) {
+          this.isInvalid = newIsInvalid;
+          /**
+           * Screen readers tend to announce changes
+           * to `aria-describedby` when the attribute
+           * is changed during a blur event for a
+           * native form control.
+           * However, the announcement can be spotty
+           * when using a non-native form control
+           * and `forceUpdate()`.
+           * This is due to `forceUpdate()` internally
+           * rescheduling the DOM update to a lower
+           * priority queue regardless if it's called
+           * inside a Promise or not, thus causing
+           * the screen reader to potentially miss the
+           * change.
+           * By using a State variable inside a Promise,
+           * it guarantees a re-render immediately at
+           * a higher priority.
+           */
+          Promise.resolve().then(() => {
+            this.hintTextId = this.getHintTextId();
+          });
+        }
+      });
+
+      this.validationObserver.observe(el, {
+        attributes: true,
+        attributeFilter: ['class'],
+      });
+    }
+
+    // Always set initial state
+    this.isInvalid = checkInvalidState(el);
+  }
+
   componentWillLoad() {
     this.inheritedAttributes = {
       ...inheritAriaAttributes(this.el),
     };
+
+    this.hintTextId = this.getHintTextId();
+  }
+
+  disconnectedCallback() {
+    // Clean up validation observer to prevent memory leaks.
+    if (this.validationObserver) {
+      this.validationObserver.disconnect();
+      this.validationObserver = undefined;
+    }
   }
 
   /** @internal */
   @Method()
   async setFocus() {
-    if (this.focusEl) {
-      this.focusEl.focus();
-    }
+    this.el.focus();
   }
 
   /**
@@ -169,7 +228,6 @@ export class Checkbox implements ComponentInterface {
   private toggleChecked = (ev: Event) => {
     ev.preventDefault();
 
-    this.setFocus();
     this.setChecked(!this.checked);
     this.indeterminate = false;
   };
@@ -207,10 +265,10 @@ export class Checkbox implements ComponentInterface {
     ev.stopPropagation();
   };
 
-  private getHintTextID(): string | undefined {
-    const { el, helperText, errorText, helperTextId, errorTextId } = this;
+  private getHintTextId(): string | undefined {
+    const { helperText, errorText, helperTextId, errorTextId, isInvalid } = this;
 
-    if (el.classList.contains('ion-touched') && el.classList.contains('ion-invalid') && errorText) {
+    if (isInvalid && errorText) {
       return errorTextId;
     }
 
@@ -226,7 +284,7 @@ export class Checkbox implements ComponentInterface {
    * This element should only be rendered if hint text is set.
    */
   private renderHintText() {
-    const { helperText, errorText, helperTextId, errorTextId } = this;
+    const { helperText, errorText, helperTextId, errorTextId, isInvalid } = this;
 
     /**
      * undefined and empty string values should
@@ -239,11 +297,11 @@ export class Checkbox implements ComponentInterface {
 
     return (
       <div class="checkbox-bottom">
-        <div id={helperTextId} class="helper-text" part="supporting-text helper-text">
-          {helperText}
+        <div id={helperTextId} class="helper-text" part="supporting-text helper-text" aria-live="polite">
+          {!isInvalid ? helperText : null}
         </div>
-        <div id={errorTextId} class="error-text" part="supporting-text error-text">
-          {errorText}
+        <div id={errorTextId} class="error-text" part="supporting-text error-text" role="alert">
+          {isInvalid ? errorText : null}
         </div>
       </div>
     );
@@ -278,13 +336,17 @@ export class Checkbox implements ComponentInterface {
       <Host
         role="checkbox"
         aria-checked={indeterminate ? 'mixed' : `${checked}`}
-        aria-describedby={this.getHintTextID()}
-        aria-invalid={this.getHintTextID() === this.errorTextId}
+        aria-describedby={this.hintTextId}
+        aria-invalid={this.isInvalid ? 'true' : undefined}
         aria-labelledby={hasLabelContent ? this.inputLabelId : null}
         aria-label={inheritedAttributes['aria-label'] || null}
         aria-disabled={disabled ? 'true' : null}
+        aria-required={required ? 'true' : undefined}
         tabindex={disabled ? undefined : 0}
         onKeyDown={this.onKeyDown}
+        onFocus={this.onFocus}
+        onBlur={this.onBlur}
+        onClick={this.onClick}
         class={createColorClasses(color, {
           [mode]: true,
           'in-item': hostContext('ion-item', el),
@@ -296,7 +358,6 @@ export class Checkbox implements ComponentInterface {
           [`checkbox-alignment-${alignment}`]: alignment !== undefined,
           [`checkbox-label-placement-${labelPlacement}`]: true,
         })}
-        onClick={this.onClick}
       >
         <label class="checkbox-wrapper" htmlFor={inputId}>
           {/*
@@ -309,9 +370,6 @@ export class Checkbox implements ComponentInterface {
             disabled={disabled}
             id={inputId}
             onChange={this.toggleChecked}
-            onFocus={() => this.onFocus()}
-            onBlur={() => this.onBlur()}
-            ref={(focusEl) => (this.focusEl = focusEl)}
             required={required}
             {...inheritedAttributes}
           />

core/src/components/checkbox/test/basic/checkbox.e2e.ts

@@ -44,7 +44,10 @@ configs().forEach(({ title, screenshot, config }) => {
   });
 });
 
-configs({ modes: ['ios'], directions: ['ltr'] }).forEach(({ title, config }) => {
+/**
+ * This behavior does not vary across modes/directions
+ */
+configs({ modes: ['ios'], directions: ['ltr'] }).forEach(({ title, screenshot, config }) => {
   test.describe(title('checkbox: ionChange'), () => {
     test('should fire ionChange when interacting with checkbox', async ({ page }) => {
       await page.setContent(
@@ -133,4 +136,195 @@ configs({ modes: ['ios'], directions: ['ltr'] }).forEach(({ title, config }) =>
       expect(clickCount).toBe(1);
     });
   });
+
+  test.describe(title('checkbox: ionFocus'), () => {
+    test('should not have visual regressions', async ({ page, pageUtils }) => {
+      await page.setContent(
+        `
+        <style>
+          #container {
+            display: inline-block;
+            padding: 10px;
+          }
+        </style>
+
+        <div id="container">
+          <ion-checkbox>Unchecked</ion-checkbox>
+        </div>
+      `,
+        config
+      );
+
+      await pageUtils.pressKeys('Tab');
+
+      const container = page.locator('#container');
+
+      await expect(container).toHaveScreenshot(screenshot(`checkbox-focus`));
+    });
+
+    test('should not have visual regressions when interacting with checkbox in item', async ({ page, pageUtils }) => {
+      await page.setContent(
+        `
+        <ion-item class="ion-focused">
+          <ion-checkbox>Unchecked</ion-checkbox>
+        </ion-item>
+      `,
+        config
+      );
+
+      // Test focus with keyboard navigation
+      await pageUtils.pressKeys('Tab');
+
+      const item = page.locator('ion-item');
+
+      await expect(item).toHaveScreenshot(screenshot(`checkbox-in-item-focus`));
+    });
+
+    test('should fire ionFocus when checkbox is focused', async ({ page, pageUtils }) => {
+      await page.setContent(
+        `
+        <ion-checkbox aria-label="checkbox" value="my-checkbox"></ion-checkbox>
+      `,
+        config
+      );
+
+      const ionFocus = await page.spyOnEvent('ionFocus');
+
+      // Test focus with keyboard navigation
+      await pageUtils.pressKeys('Tab');
+
+      expect(ionFocus).toHaveReceivedEventTimes(1);
+
+      // Reset focus
+      const checkbox = page.locator('ion-checkbox');
+      const checkboxBoundingBox = (await checkbox.boundingBox())!;
+      await page.mouse.click(0, checkboxBoundingBox.height + 1);
+
+      // Test focus with click
+      await checkbox.click();
+
+      expect(ionFocus).toHaveReceivedEventTimes(2);
+    });
+
+    test('should fire ionFocus when interacting with checkbox in item', async ({ page, pageUtils }) => {
+      await page.setContent(
+        `
+        <ion-item>
+          <ion-checkbox aria-label="checkbox" value="my-checkbox"></ion-checkbox>
+        </ion-item>
+      `,
+        config
+      );
+
+      const ionFocus = await page.spyOnEvent('ionFocus');
+
+      // Test focus with keyboard navigation
+      await pageUtils.pressKeys('Tab');
+
+      expect(ionFocus).toHaveReceivedEventTimes(1);
+
+      // Verify that the event target is the checkbox and not the item
+      const eventByKeyboard = ionFocus.events[0];
+      expect((eventByKeyboard.target as HTMLElement).tagName.toLowerCase()).toBe('ion-checkbox');
+
+      // Reset focus
+      const checkbox = page.locator('ion-checkbox');
+      const checkboxBoundingBox = (await checkbox.boundingBox())!;
+      await page.mouse.click(0, checkboxBoundingBox.height + 1);
+
+      // Test focus with click
+      const item = page.locator('ion-item');
+      await item.click();
+
+      expect(ionFocus).toHaveReceivedEventTimes(2);
+
+      // Verify that the event target is the checkbox and not the item
+      const eventByClick = ionFocus.events[0];
+      expect((eventByClick.target as HTMLElement).tagName.toLowerCase()).toBe('ion-checkbox');
+    });
+
+    test('should not fire when programmatically setting a value', async ({ page }) => {
+      await page.setContent(
+        `
+        <ion-checkbox aria-label="checkbox" value="my-checkbox"></ion-checkbox>
+      `,
+        config
+      );
+
+      const ionFocus = await page.spyOnEvent('ionFocus');
+      const checkbox = page.locator('ion-checkbox');
+
+      await checkbox.evaluate((el: HTMLIonCheckboxElement) => (el.checked = true));
+      expect(ionFocus).not.toHaveReceivedEvent();
+    });
+  });
+
+  test.describe(title('checkbox: ionBlur'), () => {
+    test('should fire ionBlur when checkbox is blurred', async ({ page, pageUtils }) => {
+      await page.setContent(
+        `
+        <ion-checkbox aria-label="checkbox" value="my-checkbox"></ion-checkbox>
+      `,
+        config
+      );
+
+      const ionBlur = await page.spyOnEvent('ionBlur');
+
+      // Test blur with keyboard navigation
+      // Focus the checkbox
+      await pageUtils.pressKeys('Tab');
+      // Blur the checkbox
+      await pageUtils.pressKeys('Tab');
+
+      expect(ionBlur).toHaveReceivedEventTimes(1);
+
+      // Test blur with click
+      const checkbox = page.locator('ion-checkbox');
+      // Focus the checkbox
+      await checkbox.click();
+      // Blur the checkbox by clicking outside of it
+      const checkboxBoundingBox = (await checkbox.boundingBox())!;
+      await page.mouse.click(0, checkboxBoundingBox.height + 1);
+
+      expect(ionBlur).toHaveReceivedEventTimes(2);
+    });
+
+    test('should fire ionBlur after interacting with checkbox in item', async ({ page, pageUtils }) => {
+      await page.setContent(
+        `
+        <ion-item>
+          <ion-checkbox aria-label="checkbox" value="my-checkbox"></ion-checkbox>
+        </ion-item>
+      `,
+        config
+      );
+
+      const ionBlur = await page.spyOnEvent('ionBlur');
+
+      // Test blur with keyboard navigation
+      // Focus the checkbox
+      await pageUtils.pressKeys('Tab');
+      // Blur the checkbox
+      await pageUtils.pressKeys('Tab');
+
+      expect(ionBlur).toHaveReceivedEventTimes(1);
+
+      // Verify that the event target is the checkbox and not the item
+      const event = ionBlur.events[0];
+      expect((event.target as HTMLElement).tagName.toLowerCase()).toBe('ion-checkbox');
+
+      // Test blur with click
+      const item = page.locator('ion-item');
+      await item.click();
+      // Blur the checkbox by clicking outside of it
+      const itemBoundingBox = (await item.boundingBox())!;
+      await page.mouse.click(0, itemBoundingBox.height + 1);
+
+      expect(ionBlur).toHaveReceivedEventTimes(2);
+
+      // Verify that the event target is the checkbox and not the item
+      const eventByClick = ionBlur.events[0];
+      expect((eventByClick.target as HTMLElement).tagName.toLowerCase()).toBe('ion-checkbox');
+    });
+  });
 });

core/src/components/checkbox/test/basic/index.html

@@ -50,6 +50,20 @@
         <ion-checkbox checked style="width: 200px">Specified width</ion-checkbox><br />
         <ion-checkbox checked style="width: 100%">Full-width</ion-checkbox><br />
       </ion-content>
+
+      <script>
+        document.addEventListener('ionBlur', (ev) => {
+          console.log('ionBlur', ev);
+        });
+
+        document.addEventListener('ionChange', (ev) => {
+          console.log('ionChange', ev);
+        });
+
+        document.addEventListener('ionFocus', (ev) => {
+          console.log('ionFocus', ev);
+        });
+      </script>
     </ion-app>
   </body>
 </html>

core/src/components/checkbox/test/item/index.html

@@ -246,6 +246,20 @@
           </div>
         </div>
       </ion-content>
+
+      <script>
+        document.addEventListener('ionBlur', (ev) => {
+          console.log('ionBlur', ev);
+        });
+
+        document.addEventListener('ionChange', (ev) => {
+          console.log('ionChange', ev);
+        });
+
+        document.addEventListener('ionFocus', (ev) => {
+          console.log('ionFocus', ev);
+        });
+      </script>
     </ion-app>
   </body>
 </html>

core/src/components/checkbox/test/validation/index.html

@@ -0,0 +1,184 @@
+<!DOCTYPE html>
+<html lang="en" dir="ltr">
+  <head>
+    <meta charset="UTF-8" />
+    <title>Checkbox - Validation</title>
+    <meta
+      name="viewport"
+      content="viewport-fit=cover, width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0, minimum-scale=1.0, maximum-scale=1.0, user-scalable=no"
+    />
+    <link href="../../../../../css/ionic.bundle.css" rel="stylesheet" />
+    <link href="../../../../../scripts/testing/styles.css" rel="stylesheet" />
+    <script src="../../../../../scripts/testing/scripts.js"></script>
+    <script nomodule src="../../../../../dist/ionic/ionic.js"></script>
+    <script type="module" src="../../../../../dist/ionic/ionic.esm.js"></script>
+    <style>
+      .grid {
+        display: grid;
+        grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fill, minmax(250px, 1fr));
+        grid-row-gap: 30px;
+        grid-column-gap: 30px;
+      }
+
+      h2 {
+        font-size: 12px;
+        font-weight: normal;
+
+        color: var(--ion-color-step-600);
+
+        margin-top: 10px;
+        margin-bottom: 5px;
+      }
+
+      .validation-info {
+        margin: 20px;
+        padding: 10px;
+        background: var(--ion-color-light);
+        border-radius: 4px;
+      }
+    </style>
+  </head>
+
+  <body>
+    <ion-app>
+      <ion-header>
+        <ion-toolbar>
+          <ion-title>Checkbox - Validation Test</ion-title>
+        </ion-toolbar>
+      </ion-header>
+
+      <ion-content class="ion-padding">
+        <div class="validation-info">
+          <h2>Screen Reader Testing Instructions:</h2>
+          <ol>
+            <li>Enable your screen reader (VoiceOver, NVDA, JAWS, etc.)</li>
+            <li>Tab through the form fields</li>
+            <li>When you tab away from an empty required field, the error should be announced immediately</li>
+            <li>The error text should be announced BEFORE the next field is announced</li>
+            <li>Test in Chrome, Safari, and Firefox to verify consistent behavior</li>
+          </ol>
+        </div>
+
+        <div class="grid">
+          <div>
+            <h2>Required Field</h2>
+            <ion-checkbox
+              id="terms-checkbox"
+              helper-text="You must agree to continue"
+              error-text="Please accept the terms and conditions"
+              required
+              >I agree to the terms and conditions</ion-checkbox
+            >
+          </div>
+
+          <div>
+            <h2>Optional Field (No Validation)</h2>
+            <ion-checkbox id="optional-checkbox" helper-text="You can skip this field">Optional Checkbox</ion-checkbox>
+          </div>
+        </div>
+
+        <div class="ion-padding">
+          <ion-button id="submit-btn" expand="block" disabled>Submit Form</ion-button>
+          <ion-button id="reset-btn" expand="block" fill="outline">Reset Form</ion-button>
+        </div>
+      </ion-content>
+    </ion-app>
+
+    <script>
+      // Simple validation logic
+      const checkboxes = document.querySelectorAll('ion-checkbox');
+      const submitBtn = document.getElementById('submit-btn');
+      const resetBtn = document.getElementById('reset-btn');
+
+      // Track which fields have been touched
+      const touchedFields = new Set();
+
+      // Validation functions
+      const validators = {
+        'terms-checkbox': (checked) => {
+          return checked === true;
+        },
+        'optional-checkbox': () => true, // Always valid
+      };
+
+      function validateField(checkbox) {
+        const checkboxId = checkbox.id;
+        const checked = checkbox.checked;
+        const isValid = validators[checkboxId] ? validators[checkboxId](checked) : true;
+
+        // Only show validation state if field has been touched
+        if (touchedFields.has(checkboxId)) {
+          if (isValid) {
+            checkbox.classList.remove('ion-invalid');
+            checkbox.classList.add('ion-valid');
+          } else {
+            checkbox.classList.remove('ion-valid');
+            checkbox.classList.add('ion-invalid');
+          }
+          checkbox.classList.add('ion-touched');
+        }
+
+        return isValid;
+      }
+
+      function validateForm() {
+        let allValid = true;
+        checkboxes.forEach((checkbox) => {
+          if (checkbox.id !== 'optional-checkbox') {
+            const isValid = validateField(checkbox);
+            if (!isValid) {
+              allValid = false;
+            }
+          }
+        });
+        submitBtn.disabled = !allValid;
+        return allValid;
+      }
+
+      // Add event listeners
+      checkboxes.forEach((checkbox) => {
+        // Mark as touched on blur
+        checkbox.addEventListener('ionBlur', (e) => {
+          console.log('Blur event on:', checkbox.id);
+          touchedFields.add(checkbox.id);
+          validateField(checkbox);
+          validateForm();
+
+          const isInvalid = checkbox.classList.contains('ion-invalid');
+          if (isInvalid) {
+            console.log('Field marked invalid:', checkbox.innerText, checkbox.errorText);
+          }
+        });
+
+        // Validate on change
+        checkbox.addEventListener('ionChange', (e) => {
+          console.log('Change event on:', checkbox.id);
+          if (touchedFields.has(checkbox.id)) {
+            validateField(checkbox);
+            validateForm();
+          }
+        });
+      });
+
+      // Reset button
+      resetBtn.addEventListener('click', () => {
+        checkboxes.forEach((checkbox) => {
+          checkbox.checked = false;
+          checkbox.classList.remove('ion-valid', 'ion-invalid', 'ion-touched');
+        });
+        touchedFields.clear();
+        submitBtn.disabled = true;
+      });
+
+      // Submit button
+      submitBtn.addEventListener('click', () => {
+        if (validateForm()) {
+          alert('Form submitted successfully!');
+        }
+      });
+
+      // Initial setup
+      validateForm();
+    </script>
+  </body>
+</html>

core/src/components/datetime/datetime.tsx

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import { Component, Element, Event, Host, Method, Prop, State, Watch, h, writeTa
 import { startFocusVisible } from '@utils/focus-visible';
 import { getElementRoot, raf, renderHiddenInput } from '@utils/helpers';
 import { printIonError, printIonWarning } from '@utils/logging';
+import { FOCUS_TRAP_DISABLE_CLASS } from '@utils/overlays';
 import { isRTL } from '@utils/rtl';
 import { createColorClasses } from '@utils/theme';
 import { caretDownSharp, caretUpSharp, chevronBack, chevronDown, chevronForward } from 'ionicons/icons';
@@ -1598,7 +1599,7 @@ export class Datetime implements ComponentInterface {
       forcePresentation === 'time-date'
         ? [this.renderTimePickerColumns(forcePresentation), this.renderDatePickerColumns(forcePresentation)]
         : [this.renderDatePickerColumns(forcePresentation), this.renderTimePickerColumns(forcePresentation)];
-    return <ion-picker>{renderArray}</ion-picker>;
+    return <ion-picker class={FOCUS_TRAP_DISABLE_CLASS}>{renderArray}</ion-picker>;
   }
 
   private renderDatePickerColumns(forcePresentation: string) {

core/src/components/header/header.ios.scss

@@ -39,6 +39,15 @@
   --opacity-scale: inherit;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Override styles applied during the page transition to prevent
+ * header flickering.
+ */
+.header-collapse-fade.header-transitioning ion-toolbar {
+  --background: transparent;
+  --border-style: none;
+}
+
 // iOS Header - Collapse Condense
 // --------------------------------------------------
 .header-collapse-condense {
@@ -65,8 +74,6 @@
  * since it needs to blend in with the header above it.
  */
 .header-collapse-condense ion-toolbar {
-  --background: var(--ion-background-color, #fff);
-
   z-index: 0;
 }
 
@@ -93,6 +100,28 @@
   transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Large title toolbar should just use the content background
+ * since it needs to blend in with the header above it.
+ */
+.header-collapse-condense ion-toolbar,
+/**
+ * Override styles applied during the page transition to prevent
+ * header flickering.
+ */
+.header-collapse-condense-inactive.header-transitioning:not(.header-collapse-condense) ion-toolbar {
+  --background: var(--ion-background-color, #fff);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Override styles applied during the page transition to prevent
+ * header flickering.
+ */
+.header-collapse-condense-inactive.header-transitioning:not(.header-collapse-condense) ion-toolbar {
+  --border-style: none;
+  --opacity-scale: 1;
+}
+
 .header-collapse-condense-inactive:not(.header-collapse-condense) ion-toolbar.in-toolbar ion-title,
 .header-collapse-condense-inactive:not(.header-collapse-condense) ion-toolbar.in-toolbar ion-buttons.buttons-collapse {
   opacity: 0;

core/src/components/header/header.tsx

@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import {
   handleToolbarIntersection,
   setHeaderActive,
   setToolbarBackgroundOpacity,
+  getRoleType,
 } from './header.utils';
 
 /**
@@ -208,9 +209,10 @@ export class Header implements ComponentInterface {
     const { translucent, inheritedAttributes } = this;
     const mode = getIonMode(this);
     const collapse = this.collapse || 'none';
+    const isCondensed = collapse === 'condense';
 
     // banner role must be at top level, so remove role if inside a menu
-    const roleType = hostContext('ion-menu', this.el) ? 'none' : 'banner';
+    const roleType = getRoleType(hostContext('ion-menu', this.el), isCondensed, mode);
 
     return (
       <Host

core/src/components/header/header.utils.ts

@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@ import { readTask, writeTask } from '@stencil/core';
 import { clamp } from '@utils/helpers';
 
 const TRANSITION = 'all 0.2s ease-in-out';
+const ROLE_NONE = 'none';
+const ROLE_BANNER = 'banner';
 
 interface HeaderIndex {
   el: HTMLIonHeaderElement;
@@ -171,6 +173,7 @@ export const setHeaderActive = (headerIndex: HeaderIndex, active = true) => {
   const ionTitles = toolbars.map((toolbar) => toolbar.ionTitleEl);
 
   if (active) {
+    headerEl.setAttribute('role', ROLE_BANNER);
     headerEl.classList.remove('header-collapse-condense-inactive');
 
     ionTitles.forEach((ionTitle) => {
@@ -179,6 +182,16 @@ export const setHeaderActive = (headerIndex: HeaderIndex, active = true) => {
       }
     });
   } else {
+    /**
+     * There can only be one banner landmark per page.
+     * By default, all ion-headers have the banner role.
+     * This causes an accessibility issue when using a
+     * condensed header since there are two ion-headers
+     * on the page at once (active and inactive).
+     * To solve this, the role needs to be toggled
+     * based on which header is active.
+     */
+    headerEl.setAttribute('role', ROLE_NONE);
     headerEl.classList.add('header-collapse-condense-inactive');
 
     /**
@@ -244,3 +257,28 @@ export const handleHeaderFade = (scrollEl: HTMLElement, baseEl: HTMLElement, con
     });
   });
 };
+
+/**
+ * Get the role type for the ion-header.
+ *
+ * @param isInsideMenu If ion-header is inside ion-menu.
+ * @param isCondensed If ion-header has collapse="condense".
+ * @param mode The current mode.
+ * @returns 'none' if inside ion-menu or if condensed in md
+ * mode, otherwise 'banner'.
+ */
+export const getRoleType = (isInsideMenu: boolean, isCondensed: boolean, mode: 'ios' | 'md') => {
+  // If the header is inside a menu, it should not have the banner role.
+  if (isInsideMenu) {
+    return ROLE_NONE;
+  }
+  /**
+   * Only apply role="none" to `md` mode condensed headers
+   * since the large header is never shown.
+   */
+  if (isCondensed && mode === 'md') {
+    return ROLE_NONE;
+  }
+  // Default to banner role.
+  return ROLE_BANNER;
+};

core/src/components/header/test/condense/header.e2e.ts

@@ -40,5 +40,45 @@ configs({ modes: ['ios'], directions: ['ltr'] }).forEach(({ title, screenshot, c
 
       await expect(smallTitle).toHaveAttribute('aria-hidden', 'true');
     });
+
+    test('should only have the banner role on the active header', async ({ page }) => {
+      await page.goto('/src/components/header/test/condense', config);
+      const largeTitleHeader = page.locator('#largeTitleHeader');
+      const smallTitleHeader = page.locator('#smallTitleHeader');
+      const content = page.locator('ion-content');
+
+      await expect(largeTitleHeader).toHaveAttribute('role', 'banner');
+      await expect(smallTitleHeader).toHaveAttribute('role', 'none');
+
+      await content.evaluate(async (el: HTMLIonContentElement) => {
+        await el.scrollToBottom();
+      });
+      await page.locator('#largeTitleHeader.header-collapse-condense-inactive').waitFor();
+
+      await expect(largeTitleHeader).toHaveAttribute('role', 'none');
+      await expect(smallTitleHeader).toHaveAttribute('role', 'banner');
+    });
+  });
+});
+
+configs({ modes: ['md'], directions: ['ltr'] }).forEach(({ title, config }) => {
+  test.describe(title('header: condense'), () => {
+    test('should only have the banner role on the small header', async ({ page }) => {
+      await page.goto('/src/components/header/test/condense', config);
+      const largeTitleHeader = page.locator('#largeTitleHeader');
+      const smallTitleHeader = page.locator('#smallTitleHeader');
+      const content = page.locator('ion-content');
+
+      await expect(smallTitleHeader).toHaveAttribute('role', 'banner');
+      await expect(largeTitleHeader).toHaveAttribute('role', 'none');
+
+      await content.evaluate(async (el: HTMLIonContentElement) => {
+        await el.scrollToBottom();
+      });
+      await page.waitForChanges();
+
+      await expect(smallTitleHeader).toHaveAttribute('role', 'banner');
+      await expect(largeTitleHeader).toHaveAttribute('role', 'none');
+    });
   });
 });

core/src/components/input/input.tsx

@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ import {
   h,
 } from '@stencil/core';
 import type { NotchController } from '@utils/forms';
-import { createNotchController } from '@utils/forms';
+import { createNotchController, checkInvalidState } from '@utils/forms';
 import type { Attributes } from '@utils/helpers';
 import { inheritAriaAttributes, debounceEvent, inheritAttributes, componentOnReady } from '@utils/helpers';
 import { createSlotMutationController } from '@utils/slot-mutation-controller';
@@ -79,8 +79,15 @@ export class Input implements ComponentInterface {
    */
   @State() hasFocus = false;
 
+  /**
+   * Track validation state for proper aria-live announcements
+   */
+  @State() isInvalid = false;
+
   @Element() el!: HTMLIonInputElement;
 
+  private validationObserver?: MutationObserver;
+
   /**
    * The color to use from your application's color palette.
    * Default options are: `"primary"`, `"secondary"`, `"tertiary"`, `"success"`, `"warning"`, `"danger"`, `"light"`, `"medium"`, and `"dark"`.
@@ -406,6 +413,26 @@ export class Input implements ComponentInterface {
       () => this.labelSlot
     );
 
+    // Watch for class changes to update validation state
+    if (Build.isBrowser && typeof MutationObserver !== 'undefined') {
+      this.validationObserver = new MutationObserver(() => {
+        const newIsInvalid = checkInvalidState(el);
+        if (this.isInvalid !== newIsInvalid) {
+          this.isInvalid = newIsInvalid;
+          // Force a re-render to update aria-describedby immediately
+          forceUpdate(this);
+        }
+      });
+
+      this.validationObserver.observe(el, {
+        attributes: true,
+        attributeFilter: ['class'],
+      });
+    }
+
+    // Always set initial state
+    this.isInvalid = checkInvalidState(el);
+
     this.debounceChanged();
     if (Build.isBrowser) {
       document.dispatchEvent(
@@ -451,6 +478,12 @@ export class Input implements ComponentInterface {
       this.notchController.destroy();
       this.notchController = undefined;
     }
+
+    // Clean up validation observer to prevent memory leaks
+    if (this.validationObserver) {
+      this.validationObserver.disconnect();
+      this.validationObserver = undefined;
+    }
   }
 
   /**
@@ -626,22 +659,22 @@ export class Input implements ComponentInterface {
    * Renders the helper text or error text values
    */
   private renderHintText() {
-    const { helperText, errorText, helperTextId, errorTextId } = this;
+    const { helperText, errorText, helperTextId, errorTextId, isInvalid } = this;
 
     return [
-      <div id={helperTextId} class="helper-text">
-        {helperText}
+      <div id={helperTextId} class="helper-text" aria-live="polite">
+        {!isInvalid ? helperText : null}
       </div>,
-      <div id={errorTextId} class="error-text">
-        {errorText}
+      <div id={errorTextId} class="error-text" role="alert">
+        {isInvalid ? errorText : null}
       </div>,
     ];
   }
 
   private getHintTextID(): string | undefined {
-    const { el, helperText, errorText, helperTextId, errorTextId } = this;
+    const { isInvalid, helperText, errorText, helperTextId, errorTextId } = this;
 
-    if (el.classList.contains('ion-touched') && el.classList.contains('ion-invalid') && errorText) {
+    if (isInvalid && errorText) {
       return errorTextId;
     }
 
@@ -864,7 +897,7 @@ export class Input implements ComponentInterface {
               onCompositionstart={this.onCompositionStart}
               onCompositionend={this.onCompositionEnd}
               aria-describedby={this.getHintTextID()}
-              aria-invalid={this.getHintTextID() === this.errorTextId}
+              aria-invalid={this.isInvalid ? 'true' : undefined}
               {...this.inheritedAttributes}
             />
             {this.clearInput && !readonly && !disabled && (

core/src/components/input/test/validation/index.html

@@ -0,0 +1,284 @@
+<!DOCTYPE html>
+<html lang="en" dir="ltr">
+  <head>
+    <meta charset="UTF-8" />
+    <title>Input - Validation</title>
+    <meta
+      name="viewport"
+      content="viewport-fit=cover, width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0, minimum-scale=1.0, maximum-scale=1.0, user-scalable=no"
+    />
+    <link href="../../../../../css/ionic.bundle.css" rel="stylesheet" />
+    <link href="../../../../../scripts/testing/styles.css" rel="stylesheet" />
+    <script src="../../../../../scripts/testing/scripts.js"></script>
+    <script nomodule src="../../../../../dist/ionic/ionic.js"></script>
+    <script type="module" src="../../../../../dist/ionic/ionic.esm.js"></script>
+    <style>
+      .grid {
+        display: grid;
+        grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fill, minmax(250px, 1fr));
+        grid-row-gap: 20px;
+        grid-column-gap: 20px;
+      }
+
+      h2 {
+        font-size: 12px;
+        font-weight: normal;
+
+        color: var(--ion-color-step-600);
+
+        margin-top: 10px;
+        margin-bottom: 5px;
+      }
+
+      .validation-info {
+        margin: 20px;
+        padding: 10px;
+        background: var(--ion-color-light);
+        border-radius: 4px;
+      }
+    </style>
+  </head>
+
+  <body>
+    <ion-app>
+      <ion-header>
+        <ion-toolbar>
+          <ion-title>Input - Validation Test</ion-title>
+        </ion-toolbar>
+      </ion-header>
+
+      <ion-content class="ion-padding">
+        <div class="validation-info">
+          <h2>Screen Reader Testing Instructions:</h2>
+          <ol>
+            <li>Enable your screen reader (VoiceOver, NVDA, JAWS, etc.)</li>
+            <li>Tab through the form fields</li>
+            <li>When you tab away from an empty required field, the error should be announced immediately</li>
+            <li>The error text should be announced BEFORE the next field is announced</li>
+            <li>Test in Chrome, Safari, and Firefox to verify consistent behavior</li>
+          </ol>
+        </div>
+
+        <div class="grid">
+          <div>
+            <h2>Required Email Field</h2>
+            <ion-input
+              id="email-input"
+              type="email"
+              label="Email"
+              label-placement="floating"
+              fill="outline"
+              placeholder="Enter your email"
+              helper-text="We'll never share your email"
+              error-text="Please enter a valid email address"
+              required
+            ></ion-input>
+          </div>
+
+          <div>
+            <h2>Required Name Field</h2>
+            <ion-input
+              id="name-input"
+              type="text"
+              label="Full Name"
+              label-placement="floating"
+              fill="outline"
+              placeholder="Enter your full name"
+              helper-text="First and last name"
+              error-text="Name is required"
+              required
+            ></ion-input>
+          </div>
+
+          <div>
+            <h2>Phone Number (Pattern Validation)</h2>
+            <ion-input
+              id="phone-input"
+              type="tel"
+              label="Phone"
+              label-placement="floating"
+              fill="outline"
+              placeholder="(555) 555-5555"
+              pattern="^\(\d{3}\) \d{3}-\d{4}$"
+              helper-text="Format: (555) 555-5555"
+              error-text="Please enter a valid phone number"
+              required
+            ></ion-input>
+          </div>
+
+          <div>
+            <h2>Password (Min Length)</h2>
+            <ion-input
+              id="password-input"
+              type="password"
+              label="Password"
+              label-placement="floating"
+              fill="outline"
+              placeholder="Enter password"
+              minlength="8"
+              helper-text="At least 8 characters"
+              error-text="Password must be at least 8 characters"
+              required
+            ></ion-input>
+          </div>
+
+          <div>
+            <h2>Age (Number Range)</h2>
+            <ion-input
+              id="age-input"
+              type="number"
+              label="Age"
+              label-placement="floating"
+              fill="outline"
+              placeholder="Enter your age"
+              min="18"
+              max="120"
+              helper-text="Must be 18 or older"
+              error-text="Please enter a valid age (18-120)"
+              required
+            ></ion-input>
+          </div>
+
+          <div>
+            <h2>Optional Field (No Validation)</h2>
+            <ion-input
+              id="optional-input"
+              type="text"
+              label="Optional Info"
+              label-placement="floating"
+              fill="outline"
+              placeholder="This field is optional"
+              helper-text="You can skip this field"
+            ></ion-input>
+          </div>
+        </div>
+
+        <div class="ion-padding">
+          <ion-button id="submit-btn" expand="block" disabled>Submit Form</ion-button>
+          <ion-button id="reset-btn" expand="block" fill="outline">Reset Form</ion-button>
+        </div>
+      </ion-content>
+    </ion-app>
+
+    <script>
+      // Simple validation logic
+      const inputs = document.querySelectorAll('ion-input');
+      const submitBtn = document.getElementById('submit-btn');
+      const resetBtn = document.getElementById('reset-btn');
+
+      // Track which fields have been touched
+      const touchedFields = new Set();
+
+      // Validation functions
+      const validators = {
+        'email-input': (value) => {
+          if (!value) return false;
+          return /^[^\s@]+@[^\s@]+\.[^\s@]+$/.test(value);
+        },
+        'name-input': (value) => {
+          return value && value.trim().length > 0;
+        },
+        'phone-input': (value) => {
+          if (!value) return false;
+          return /^\(\d{3}\) \d{3}-\d{4}$/.test(value);
+        },
+        'password-input': (value) => {
+          return value && value.length >= 8;
+        },
+        'age-input': (value) => {
+          if (!value) return false;
+          const age = parseInt(value);
+          return age >= 18 && age <= 120;
+        },
+        'optional-input': () => true, // Always valid
+      };
+
+      function validateField(input) {
+        const inputId = input.id;
+        const value = input.value;
+        const isValid = validators[inputId] ? validators[inputId](value) : true;
+
+        // Only show validation state if field has been touched
+        if (touchedFields.has(inputId)) {
+          if (isValid) {
+            input.classList.remove('ion-invalid');
+            input.classList.add('ion-valid');
+          } else {
+            input.classList.remove('ion-valid');
+            input.classList.add('ion-invalid');
+          }
+          input.classList.add('ion-touched');
+        }
+
+        return isValid;
+      }
+
+      function validateForm() {
+        let allValid = true;
+        inputs.forEach((input) => {
+          if (input.id !== 'optional-input') {
+            const isValid = validateField(input);
+            if (!isValid) {
+              allValid = false;
+            }
+          }
+        });
+        submitBtn.disabled = !allValid;
+        return allValid;
+      }
+
+      // Add event listeners
+      inputs.forEach((input) => {
+        // Mark as touched on blur
+        input.addEventListener('ionBlur', (e) => {
+          touchedFields.add(input.id);
+          validateField(input);
+          validateForm();
+
+          const isInvalid = input.classList.contains('ion-invalid');
+          if (isInvalid) {
+            console.log('Field marked invalid:', input.label, input.errorText);
+          }
+        });
+
+        // Validate on input
+        input.addEventListener('ionInput', (e) => {
+          if (touchedFields.has(input.id)) {
+            validateField(input);
+            validateForm();
+          }
+        });
+
+        // Also validate on focus loss via native blur
+        input.addEventListener('focusout', (e) => {
+          // Small delay to ensure Ionic's classes are updated
+          setTimeout(() => {
+            touchedFields.add(input.id);
+            validateField(input);
+            validateForm();
+          }, 10);
+        });
+      });
+
+      // Reset button
+      resetBtn.addEventListener('click', () => {
+        inputs.forEach((input) => {
+          input.value = '';
+          input.classList.remove('ion-valid', 'ion-invalid', 'ion-touched');
+        });
+        touchedFields.clear();
+        submitBtn.disabled = true;
+      });
+
+      // Submit button
+      submitBtn.addEventListener('click', () => {
+        if (validateForm()) {
+          alert('Form submitted successfully!');
+        }
+      });
+
+      // Initial setup
+      validateForm();
+    </script>
+  </body>
+</html>

core/src/components/menu/menu.tsx

@@ -418,6 +418,9 @@ export class Menu implements ComponentInterface, MenuI {
    */
   @Method()
   setOpen(shouldOpen: boolean, animated = true, role?: string): Promise<boolean> {
+    // Blur the active element to prevent it from being kept focused inside an element that will be set with aria-hidden="true"
+    (document.activeElement as HTMLElement)?.blur();
+
     return menuController._setOpen(this, shouldOpen, animated, role);
   }
 

core/src/components/modal/gestures/sheet.ts

@@ -95,6 +95,16 @@ export const createSheetGesture = (
   const contentAnimation = animation.childAnimations.find((ani) => ani.id === 'contentAnimation');
 
   const enableBackdrop = () => {
+    // Respect explicit opt-out of focus trapping/backdrop interactions
+    // If focusTrap is false or showBackdrop is false, do not enable the backdrop or re-enable focus trap
+    const el = baseEl as HTMLIonModalElement & { focusTrap?: boolean; showBackdrop?: boolean };
+    const focusTrapAttr = el.getAttribute?.('focus-trap');
+    const showBackdropAttr = el.getAttribute?.('show-backdrop');
+    const focusTrapDisabled = el.focusTrap === false || focusTrapAttr === 'false';
+    const backdropDisabled = el.showBackdrop === false || showBackdropAttr === 'false';
+    if (focusTrapDisabled || backdropDisabled) {
+      return;
+    }
     baseEl.style.setProperty('pointer-events', 'auto');
     backdropEl.style.setProperty('pointer-events', 'auto');
 
@@ -235,7 +245,12 @@ export const createSheetGesture = (
      * ion-backdrop and .modal-wrapper always have pointer-events: auto
      * applied, so the modal content can still be interacted with.
      */
-    const shouldEnableBackdrop = currentBreakpoint > backdropBreakpoint;
+    const modalEl = baseEl as HTMLIonModalElement & { focusTrap?: boolean; showBackdrop?: boolean };
+    const focusTrapAttr = modalEl.getAttribute?.('focus-trap');
+    const showBackdropAttr = modalEl.getAttribute?.('show-backdrop');
+    const focusTrapDisabled = modalEl.focusTrap === false || focusTrapAttr === 'false';
+    const backdropDisabled = modalEl.showBackdrop === false || showBackdropAttr === 'false';
+    const shouldEnableBackdrop = currentBreakpoint > backdropBreakpoint && !focusTrapDisabled && !backdropDisabled;
     if (shouldEnableBackdrop) {
       enableBackdrop();
     } else {
@@ -582,7 +597,16 @@ export const createSheetGesture = (
                    * Backdrop should become enabled
                    * after the backdropBreakpoint value
                    */
-                  const shouldEnableBackdrop = currentBreakpoint > backdropBreakpoint;
+                  const modalEl = baseEl as HTMLIonModalElement & {
+                    focusTrap?: boolean;
+                    showBackdrop?: boolean;
+                  };
+                  const focusTrapAttr = modalEl.getAttribute?.('focus-trap');
+                  const showBackdropAttr = modalEl.getAttribute?.('show-backdrop');
+                  const focusTrapDisabled = modalEl.focusTrap === false || focusTrapAttr === 'false';
+                  const backdropDisabled = modalEl.showBackdrop === false || showBackdropAttr === 'false';
+                  const shouldEnableBackdrop =
+                    currentBreakpoint > backdropBreakpoint && !focusTrapDisabled && !backdropDisabled;
                   if (shouldEnableBackdrop) {
                     enableBackdrop();
                   } else {

core/src/components/modal/modal.tsx

@@ -1237,6 +1237,8 @@ export class Modal implements ComponentInterface, OverlayInterface {
     const isHandleCycle = handleBehavior === 'cycle';
     const isSheetModalWithHandle = isSheetModal && showHandle;
 
+    const focusTrapAttr = this.el.getAttribute('focus-trap');
+
     return (
       <Host
         no-router
@@ -1253,7 +1255,7 @@ export class Modal implements ComponentInterface, OverlayInterface {
           [`modal-sheet`]: isSheetModal,
           [`modal-no-expand-scroll`]: isSheetModal && !expandToScroll,
           'overlay-hidden': true,
-          [FOCUS_TRAP_DISABLE_CLASS]: focusTrap === false,
+          [FOCUS_TRAP_DISABLE_CLASS]: focusTrap === false || focusTrapAttr === 'false',
           ...getClassMap(this.cssClass),
         }}
         onIonBackdropTap={this.onBackdropTap}

core/src/components/modal/test/basic/modal.spec.tsx

@@ -28,6 +28,24 @@ describe('modal: focus trap', () => {
 
     expect(modal.classList.contains(FOCUS_TRAP_DISABLE_CLASS)).toBe(true);
   });
+
+  it('should set the focus trap class when disabled via string prop', async () => {
+    const page = await newSpecPage({
+      components: [Modal],
+      template: () => <ion-modal overlayIndex={1}></ion-modal>,
+    });
+
+    const modal = page.body.querySelector('ion-modal')! as any;
+
+    // Simulate frameworks passing the boolean as a string prop, e.g. focusTrap="false" in Angular
+    modal.focusTrap = 'false';
+    await page.waitForChanges();
+
+    // This currently fails because the host class only inspects focusTrap === false
+    // and treats the string "false" as truthy.
+    expect(modal.classList.contains(FOCUS_TRAP_DISABLE_CLASS)).toBe(true);
+  });
+
   it('should not set the focus trap class by default', async () => {
     const page = await newSpecPage({
       components: [Modal],

core/src/components/picker-column-option/picker-column-option.scss

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 // Picker Column
 // --------------------------------------------------
 
-button {
+.picker-column-option-button {
   @include padding(0);
   @include margin(0);
 
@@ -40,6 +40,6 @@ button {
   opacity: 0.4;
 }
 
-:host(.option-disabled) button {
+:host(.option-disabled) .picker-column-option-button {
   cursor: default;
 }

core/src/components/picker-column-option/picker-column-option.tsx

@@ -124,9 +124,9 @@ export class PickerColumnOption implements ComponentInterface {
           ['option-disabled']: disabled,
         })}
       >
-        <button tabindex="-1" aria-label={ariaLabel} disabled={disabled} onClick={() => this.onClick()}>
+        <div class={'picker-column-option-button'} role="button" aria-label={ariaLabel} onClick={() => this.onClick()}>
           <slot></slot>
-        </button>
+        </div>
       </Host>
     );
   }

core/src/components/picker-column-option/test/a11y/picker-column-option.e2e.ts

@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ configs({ directions: ['ltr'] }).forEach(({ config, title }) => {
     test('should not have accessibility violations', async ({ page }) => {
       await page.goto(`/src/components/picker-column-option/test/a11y`, config);
 
-      const results = await new AxeBuilder({ page }).analyze();
+      const results = await new AxeBuilder({ page }).disableRules('color-contrast').analyze();
 
       expect(results.violations).toEqual([]);
     });

core/src/components/picker-column-option/test/picker-column-option.spec.ts

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import { newSpecPage } from '@stencil/core/testing';
 import { PickerColumnOption } from '../picker-column-option';
 
 describe('picker column option', () => {
-  it('button should be enabled by default', async () => {
+  it('should be enabled by default', async () => {
     const page = await newSpecPage({
       components: [PickerColumnOption],
       html: `
@@ -12,12 +12,11 @@ describe('picker column option', () => {
     });
 
     const option = page.body.querySelector('ion-picker-column-option')!;
-    const button = option.shadowRoot!.querySelector('button')!;
 
-    await expect(button.hasAttribute('disabled')).toEqual(false);
+    await expect(option.classList.contains('option-disabled')).toEqual(false);
   });
 
-  it('button should be disabled if specified', async () => {
+  it('should be disabled if specified', async () => {
     const page = await newSpecPage({
       components: [PickerColumnOption],
       html: `
@@ -26,8 +25,7 @@ describe('picker column option', () => {
     });
 
     const option = page.body.querySelector('ion-picker-column-option')!;
-    const button = option.shadowRoot!.querySelector('button')!;
 
-    await expect(button.hasAttribute('disabled')).toEqual(true);
+    await expect(option.classList.contains('option-disabled')).toEqual(true);
   });
 });

core/src/components/picker-column/picker-column.tsx

@@ -653,39 +653,6 @@ export class PickerColumn implements ComponentInterface {
     return el ? el.getAttribute('aria-label') ?? el.innerText : '';
   };
 
-  /**
-   * Render an element that overlays the column. This element is for assistive
-   * tech to allow users to navigate the column up/down. This element should receive
-   * focus as it listens for synthesized keyboard events as required by the
-   * slider role: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/Accessibility/ARIA/Roles/slider_role
-   */
-  private renderAssistiveFocusable = () => {
-    const { activeItem } = this;
-    const valueText = this.getOptionValueText(activeItem);
-
-    /**
-     * When using the picker, the valuetext provides important context that valuenow
-     * does not. Additionally, using non-zero valuemin/valuemax values can cause
-     * WebKit to incorrectly announce numeric valuetext values (such as a year
-     * like "2024") as percentages: https://bugs.webkit.org/show_bug.cgi?id=273126
-     */
-    return (
-      <div
-        ref={(el) => (this.assistiveFocusable = el)}
-        class="assistive-focusable"
-        role="slider"
-        tabindex={this.disabled ? undefined : 0}
-        aria-label={this.ariaLabel}
-        aria-valuemin={0}
-        aria-valuemax={0}
-        aria-valuenow={0}
-        aria-valuetext={valueText}
-        aria-orientation="vertical"
-        onKeyDown={(ev) => this.onKeyDown(ev)}
-      ></div>
-    );
-  };
-
   render() {
     const { color, disabled, isActive, numericInput } = this;
     const mode = getIonMode(this);
@@ -699,33 +666,21 @@ export class PickerColumn implements ComponentInterface {
           ['picker-column-disabled']: disabled,
         })}
       >
-        {this.renderAssistiveFocusable()}
         <slot name="prefix"></slot>
         <div
-          aria-hidden="true"
           class="picker-opts"
           ref={(el) => {
             this.scrollEl = el;
           }}
-          /**
-           * When an element has an overlay scroll style and
-           * a fixed height, Firefox will focus the scrollable
-           * container if the content exceeds the container's
-           * dimensions.
-           *
-           * This causes keyboard navigation to focus to this
-           * element instead of going to the next element in
-           * the tab order.
-           *
-           * The desired behavior is for the user to be able to
-           * focus the assistive focusable element and tab to
-           * the next element in the tab order. Instead of tabbing
-           * to this element.
-           *
-           * To prevent this, we set the tabIndex to -1. This
-           * will match the behavior of the other browsers.
-           */
-          tabIndex={-1}
+          role="slider"
+          tabindex={this.disabled ? undefined : 0}
+          aria-label={this.ariaLabel}
+          aria-valuemin={0}
+          aria-valuemax={0}
+          aria-valuenow={0}
+          aria-valuetext={this.getOptionValueText(this.activeItem)}
+          aria-orientation="vertical"
+          onKeyDown={(ev) => this.onKeyDown(ev)}
         >
           <div class="picker-item-empty" aria-hidden="true">
             &nbsp;

core/src/components/picker-column/test/picker-column.spec.tsx

@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 import { h } from '@stencil/core';
 import { newSpecPage } from '@stencil/core/testing';
 
-import { PickerColumn } from '../picker-column';
 import { PickerColumnOption } from '../../picker-column-option/picker-column-option';
+import { PickerColumn } from '../picker-column';
 
-describe('picker-column: assistive element', () => {
+describe('picker-column', () => {
   beforeEach(() => {
     const mockIntersectionObserver = jest.fn();
     mockIntersectionObserver.mockReturnValue({
@@ -22,9 +22,9 @@ describe('picker-column: assistive element', () => {
     });
 
     const pickerCol = page.body.querySelector('ion-picker-column')!;
-    const assistiveFocusable = pickerCol.shadowRoot!.querySelector('.assistive-focusable')!;
+    const pickerOpts = pickerCol.shadowRoot!.querySelector('.picker-opts')!;
 
-    expect(assistiveFocusable.getAttribute('aria-label')).not.toBe(null);
+    expect(pickerOpts.getAttribute('aria-label')).not.toBe(null);
   });
 
   it('should have a custom label', async () => {
@@ -34,9 +34,9 @@ describe('picker-column: assistive element', () => {
     });
 
     const pickerCol = page.body.querySelector('ion-picker-column')!;
-    const assistiveFocusable = pickerCol.shadowRoot!.querySelector('.assistive-focusable')!;
+    const pickerOpts = pickerCol.shadowRoot!.querySelector('.picker-opts')!;
 
-    expect(assistiveFocusable.getAttribute('aria-label')).toBe('my label');
+    expect(pickerOpts.getAttribute('aria-label')).toBe('my label');
   });
 
   it('should update a custom label', async () => {
@@ -46,12 +46,12 @@ describe('picker-column: assistive element', () => {
     });
 
     const pickerCol = page.body.querySelector('ion-picker-column')!;
-    const assistiveFocusable = pickerCol.shadowRoot!.querySelector('.assistive-focusable')!;
+    const pickerOpts = pickerCol.shadowRoot!.querySelector('.picker-opts')!;
 
     pickerCol.setAttribute('aria-label', 'my label');
     await page.waitForChanges();
 
-    expect(assistiveFocusable.getAttribute('aria-label')).toBe('my label');
+    expect(pickerOpts.getAttribute('aria-label')).toBe('my label');
   });
 
   it('should receive keyboard focus when enabled', async () => {
@@ -61,9 +61,9 @@ describe('picker-column: assistive element', () => {
     });
 
     const pickerCol = page.body.querySelector('ion-picker-column')!;
-    const assistiveFocusable = pickerCol.shadowRoot!.querySelector<HTMLElement>('.assistive-focusable')!;
+    const pickerOpts = pickerCol.shadowRoot!.querySelector<HTMLElement>('.picker-opts')!;
 
-    expect(assistiveFocusable.tabIndex).toBe(0);
+    expect(pickerOpts.tabIndex).toBe(0);
   });
 
   it('should not receive keyboard focus when disabled', async () => {
@@ -73,9 +73,9 @@ describe('picker-column: assistive element', () => {
     });
 
     const pickerCol = page.body.querySelector('ion-picker-column')!;
-    const assistiveFocusable = pickerCol.shadowRoot!.querySelector<HTMLElement>('.assistive-focusable')!;
+    const pickerOpts = pickerCol.shadowRoot!.querySelector<HTMLElement>('.picker-opts')!;
 
-    expect(assistiveFocusable.tabIndex).toBe(-1);
+    expect(pickerOpts.tabIndex).toBe(-1);
   });
 
   it('should use option aria-label as assistive element aria-valuetext', async () => {
@@ -91,9 +91,9 @@ describe('picker-column: assistive element', () => {
     });
 
     const pickerCol = page.body.querySelector('ion-picker-column')!;
-    const assistiveFocusable = pickerCol.shadowRoot!.querySelector('.assistive-focusable')!;
+    const pickerOpts = pickerCol.shadowRoot!.querySelector('.picker-opts')!;
 
-    expect(assistiveFocusable.getAttribute('aria-valuetext')).toBe('My Label');
+    expect(pickerOpts.getAttribute('aria-valuetext')).toBe('My Label');
   });
 
   it('should use option text as assistive element aria-valuetext when no label provided', async () => {
@@ -107,8 +107,8 @@ describe('picker-column: assistive element', () => {
     });
 
     const pickerCol = page.body.querySelector('ion-picker-column')!;
-    const assistiveFocusable = pickerCol.shadowRoot!.querySelector('.assistive-focusable')!;
+    const pickerOpts = pickerCol.shadowRoot!.querySelector('.picker-opts')!;
 
-    expect(assistiveFocusable.getAttribute('aria-valuetext')).toBe('My Text');
+    expect(pickerOpts.getAttribute('aria-valuetext')).toBe('My Text');
   });
 });

core/src/components/picker/test/a11y/picker.e2e.ts

@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ configs().forEach(({ title, config }) => {
     test('should not have accessibility violations', async ({ page }) => {
       await page.goto(`/src/components/picker/test/a11y`, config);
 
-      const results = await new AxeBuilder({ page }).analyze();
+      const results = await new AxeBuilder({ page }).disableRules('color-contrast').analyze();
 
       expect(results.violations).toEqual([]);
     });

core/src/components/picker/test/basic/index.html

@@ -177,6 +177,10 @@
         'onion'
       );
 
+      const columnDualNumericFirst = document.querySelector('ion-picker-column#dual-numeric-first');
+      columnDualNumericFirst.addEventListener('ionChange', (ev) => {
+        console.log('Column change', ev.detail);
+      });
       setPickerColumn(
         '#dual-numeric-first',
         [
@@ -195,6 +199,10 @@
         ],
         3
       );
+      const columnDualNumericSecond = document.querySelector('ion-picker-column#dual-numeric-second');
+      columnDualNumericSecond.addEventListener('ionChange', (ev) => {
+        console.log('Column change', ev.detail);
+      });
       setPickerColumn('#dual-numeric-second', minutes, 3);
 
       setPickerColumn(

core/src/components/picker/test/basic/picker.e2e.ts

@@ -106,32 +106,43 @@ configs({ modes: ['ios'], directions: ['ltr'] }).forEach(({ title, config }) =>
     });
 
     test('tabbing should correctly move focus between columns', async ({ page }) => {
-      const firstColumn = page.locator('ion-picker-column#first');
-      const secondColumn = page.locator('ion-picker-column#second');
+      const firstColumn = await page.evaluate(() => document.querySelector('ion-picker-column#first'));
+      const secondColumn = await page.evaluate(() => document.querySelector('ion-picker-column#second'));
 
       // Focus first column
       await page.keyboard.press('Tab');
-      await expect(firstColumn).toBeFocused();
+
+      let activeElement = await page.evaluate(() => document.activeElement);
+      expect(activeElement).toEqual(firstColumn);
 
       await page.waitForChanges();
 
       // Focus second column
       await page.keyboard.press('Tab');
-      await expect(secondColumn).toBeFocused();
+
+      activeElement = await page.evaluate(() => document.activeElement);
+      expect(activeElement).toEqual(secondColumn);
     });
 
     test('tabbing should correctly move focus back', async ({ page }) => {
-      const firstColumn = page.locator('ion-picker-column#first');
-      const secondColumn = page.locator('ion-picker-column#second');
+      const firstColumn = await page.evaluate(() => document.querySelector('ion-picker-column#first'));
+      const secondColumn = await page.evaluate(() => document.querySelector('ion-picker-column#second'));
 
-      await secondColumn.evaluate((el: HTMLIonPickerColumnElement) => el.setFocus());
-      await expect(secondColumn).toBeFocused();
+      await page.evaluate((selector) => {
+        const el = document.querySelector(selector) as HTMLElement | null;
+        el?.focus();
+      }, 'ion-picker-column#second');
+
+      let activeElement = await page.evaluate(() => document.activeElement);
+      expect(activeElement).toEqual(secondColumn);
 
       await page.waitForChanges();
 
       // Focus first column
       await page.keyboard.press('Shift+Tab');
-      await expect(firstColumn).toBeFocused();
+
+      activeElement = await page.evaluate(() => document.activeElement);
+      expect(activeElement).toEqual(firstColumn);
     });
   });
 });

core/src/components/picker/test/keyboard-entry/picker.e2e.ts

@@ -38,8 +38,12 @@ configs({ modes: ['ios'], directions: ['ltr'] }).forEach(({ title, config }) =>
       );
 
       const column = page.locator('ion-picker-column');
+
+      const colShadowRoot = await column.evaluateHandle((el) => el.shadowRoot);
+      const columnPickerOpts = await colShadowRoot.evaluateHandle((root) => root?.querySelector('.picker-opts'));
+
       const ionChange = await page.spyOnEvent('ionChange');
-      await column.evaluate((el: HTMLIonPickerColumnElement) => el.setFocus());
+      await columnPickerOpts.evaluate((el) => el && (el as HTMLElement).focus());
 
       await page.keyboard.press('Digit2');
 
@@ -99,23 +103,25 @@ configs({ modes: ['ios'], directions: ['ltr'] }).forEach(({ title, config }) =>
       );
       const firstColumn = page.locator('ion-picker-column#first');
       const secondColumn = page.locator('ion-picker-column#second');
-      const highlight = page.locator('ion-picker .picker-highlight');
       const firstIonChange = await (firstColumn as E2ELocator).spyOnEvent('ionChange');
       const secondIonChange = await (secondColumn as E2ELocator).spyOnEvent('ionChange');
 
-      const box = await highlight.boundingBox();
-      if (box !== null) {
-        await page.mouse.click(box.x + box.width / 2, box.y + box.height / 2);
-      }
+      const firstColShadowRoot = await firstColumn.evaluateHandle((el) => el.shadowRoot);
+      const columnPickerOpts = await firstColShadowRoot.evaluateHandle((root) => root?.querySelector('.picker-opts'));
 
-      await expect(firstColumn).toHaveClass(/picker-column-active/);
-      await expect(secondColumn).toHaveClass(/picker-column-active/);
+      // Focus first column
+      await columnPickerOpts.evaluate((el) => el && (el as HTMLElement).focus());
 
       await page.keyboard.press('Digit2');
 
       await expect(firstIonChange).toHaveReceivedEventDetail({ value: 2 });
       await expect(firstColumn).toHaveJSProperty('value', 2);
 
+      // Focus second column
+      await page.keyboard.press('Tab');
+
+      await page.waitForChanges();
+
       await page.keyboard.press('Digit2+Digit4');
 
       await expect(secondIonChange).toHaveReceivedEventDetail({ value: 24 });
@@ -155,8 +161,12 @@ configs({ modes: ['ios'], directions: ['ltr'] }).forEach(({ title, config }) =>
       );
 
       const column = page.locator('ion-picker-column');
+
+      const colShadowRoot = await column.evaluateHandle((el) => el.shadowRoot);
+      const columnPickerOpts = await colShadowRoot.evaluateHandle((root) => root?.querySelector('.picker-opts'));
+
       const ionChange = await page.spyOnEvent('ionChange');
-      await column.evaluate((el: HTMLIonPickerColumnElement) => el.setFocus());
+      await columnPickerOpts.evaluate((el) => el && (el as HTMLElement).focus());
 
       await page.keyboard.press('Digit0');
 

core/src/components/popover/popover.tsx

@@ -687,6 +687,7 @@ export class Popover implements ComponentInterface, PopoverInterface {
     const { onLifecycle, parentPopover, dismissOnSelect, side, arrow, htmlAttributes, focusTrap } = this;
     const desktop = isPlatform('desktop');
     const enableArrow = arrow && !parentPopover;
+    const focusTrapAttr = this.el.getAttribute('focus-trap');
 
     return (
       <Host
@@ -704,7 +705,7 @@ export class Popover implements ComponentInterface, PopoverInterface {
           'overlay-hidden': true,
           'popover-desktop': desktop,
           [`popover-side-${side}`]: true,
-          [FOCUS_TRAP_DISABLE_CLASS]: focusTrap === false,
+          [FOCUS_TRAP_DISABLE_CLASS]: focusTrap === false || focusTrapAttr === 'false',
           'popover-nested': !!parentPopover,
         }}
         onIonPopoverDidPresent={onLifecycle}

core/src/components/popover/test/basic/popover.spec.tsx

@@ -29,6 +29,24 @@ describe('popover: focus trap', () => {
 
     expect(popover.classList.contains(FOCUS_TRAP_DISABLE_CLASS)).toBe(true);
   });
+
+  it('should set the focus trap class when disabled via string prop', async () => {
+    const page = await newSpecPage({
+      components: [Popover],
+      template: () => <ion-popover overlayIndex={1}></ion-popover>,
+    });
+
+    const popover = page.body.querySelector('ion-popover')! as any;
+
+    // Simulate frameworks passing the boolean as a string prop, e.g. focusTrap="false" in Angular
+    popover.focusTrap = 'false';
+    await page.waitForChanges();
+
+    // This currently fails because the host class only inspects focusTrap === false
+    // and treats the string "false" as truthy.
+    expect(popover.classList.contains(FOCUS_TRAP_DISABLE_CLASS)).toBe(true);
+  });
+
   it('should not set the focus trap class by default', async () => {
     const page = await newSpecPage({
       components: [Popover],

core/src/components/radio-group/radio-group.tsx

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import type { ComponentInterface, EventEmitter } from '@stencil/core';
-import { Component, Element, Event, Host, Listen, Method, Prop, Watch, h } from '@stencil/core';
+import { Build, Component, Element, Event, Host, Listen, Method, Prop, State, Watch, h } from '@stencil/core';
+import { checkInvalidState } from '@utils/forms';
 import { renderHiddenInput } from '@utils/helpers';
 
 import { getIonMode } from '../../global/ionic-global';
@@ -19,9 +20,17 @@ export class RadioGroup implements ComponentInterface {
   private errorTextId = `${this.inputId}-error-text`;
   private labelId = `${this.inputId}-lbl`;
   private label?: HTMLIonLabelElement | null;
+  private validationObserver?: MutationObserver;
 
   @Element() el!: HTMLElement;
 
+  /**
+   * Track validation state for proper aria-live announcements.
+   */
+  @State() isInvalid = false;
+
+  @State() private hintTextId?: string;
+
   /**
    * If `true`, the radios can be deselected.
    */
@@ -121,6 +130,57 @@ export class RadioGroup implements ComponentInterface {
         this.labelId = label.id = this.name + '-lbl';
       }
     }
+
+    // Watch for class changes to update validation state.
+    if (Build.isBrowser && typeof MutationObserver !== 'undefined') {
+      this.validationObserver = new MutationObserver(() => {
+        const newIsInvalid = checkInvalidState(this.el);
+        if (this.isInvalid !== newIsInvalid) {
+          this.isInvalid = newIsInvalid;
+          /**
+           * Screen readers tend to announce changes
+           * to `aria-describedby` when the attribute
+           * is changed during a blur event for a
+           * native form control.
+           * However, the announcement can be spotty
+           * when using a non-native form control
+           * and `forceUpdate()`.
+           * This is due to `forceUpdate()` internally
+           * rescheduling the DOM update to a lower
+           * priority queue regardless if it's called
+           * inside a Promise or not, thus causing
+           * the screen reader to potentially miss the
+           * change.
+           * By using a State variable inside a Promise,
+           * it guarantees a re-render immediately at
+           * a higher priority.
+           */
+          Promise.resolve().then(() => {
+            this.hintTextId = this.getHintTextId();
+          });
+        }
+      });
+
+      this.validationObserver.observe(this.el, {
+        attributes: true,
+        attributeFilter: ['class'],
+      });
+    }
+
+    // Always set initial state
+    this.isInvalid = checkInvalidState(this.el);
+  }
+
+  componentWillLoad() {
+    this.hintTextId = this.getHintTextId();
+  }
+
+  disconnectedCallback() {
+    // Clean up validation observer to prevent memory leaks.
+    if (this.validationObserver) {
+      this.validationObserver.disconnect();
+      this.validationObserver = undefined;
+    }
   }
 
   private getRadios(): HTMLIonRadioElement[] {
@@ -244,7 +304,7 @@ export class RadioGroup implements ComponentInterface {
    * Renders the helper text or error text values
    */
   private renderHintText() {
-    const { helperText, errorText, helperTextId, errorTextId } = this;
+    const { helperText, errorText, helperTextId, errorTextId, isInvalid } = this;
 
     const hasHintText = !!helperText || !!errorText;
     if (!hasHintText) {
@@ -253,20 +313,20 @@ export class RadioGroup implements ComponentInterface {
 
     return (
       <div class="radio-group-top">
-        <div id={helperTextId} class="helper-text">
-          {helperText}
+        <div id={helperTextId} class="helper-text" aria-live="polite">
+          {!isInvalid ? helperText : null}
         </div>
-        <div id={errorTextId} class="error-text">
-          {errorText}
+        <div id={errorTextId} class="error-text" role="alert">
+          {isInvalid ? errorText : null}
         </div>
       </div>
     );
   }
 
-  private getHintTextID(): string | undefined {
-    const { el, helperText, errorText, helperTextId, errorTextId } = this;
+  private getHintTextId(): string | undefined {
+    const { helperText, errorText, helperTextId, errorTextId, isInvalid } = this;
 
-    if (el.classList.contains('ion-touched') && el.classList.contains('ion-invalid') && errorText) {
+    if (isInvalid && errorText) {
       return errorTextId;
     }
 
@@ -287,8 +347,8 @@ export class RadioGroup implements ComponentInterface {
       <Host
         role="radiogroup"
         aria-labelledby={label ? labelId : null}
-        aria-describedby={this.getHintTextID()}
-        aria-invalid={this.getHintTextID() === this.errorTextId}
+        aria-describedby={this.hintTextId}
+        aria-invalid={this.isInvalid ? 'true' : undefined}
         onClick={this.onClick}
         class={mode}
       >

core/src/components/radio-group/test/validation/index.html

@@ -0,0 +1,194 @@
+<!DOCTYPE html>
+<html lang="en" dir="ltr">
+  <head>
+    <meta charset="UTF-8" />
+    <title>Radio Group - Validation</title>
+    <meta
+      name="viewport"
+      content="viewport-fit=cover, width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0, minimum-scale=1.0, maximum-scale=1.0, user-scalable=no"
+    />
+    <link href="../../../../../css/ionic.bundle.css" rel="stylesheet" />
+    <link href="../../../../../scripts/testing/styles.css" rel="stylesheet" />
+    <script src="../../../../../scripts/testing/scripts.js"></script>
+    <script nomodule src="../../../../../dist/ionic/ionic.js"></script>
+    <script type="module" src="../../../../../dist/ionic/ionic.esm.js"></script>
+    <style>
+      .grid {
+        display: grid;
+        grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fill, minmax(250px, 1fr));
+        grid-row-gap: 30px;
+        grid-column-gap: 30px;
+      }
+
+      h2 {
+        font-size: 12px;
+        font-weight: normal;
+
+        color: var(--ion-color-step-600);
+
+        margin-top: 10px;
+        margin-bottom: 5px;
+      }
+
+      .validation-info {
+        margin: 20px;
+        padding: 10px;
+        background: var(--ion-color-light);
+        border-radius: 4px;
+      }
+    </style>
+  </head>
+
+  <body>
+    <ion-app>
+      <ion-header>
+        <ion-toolbar>
+          <ion-title>Radio Group - Validation Test</ion-title>
+        </ion-toolbar>
+      </ion-header>
+
+      <ion-content class="ion-padding">
+        <div class="validation-info">
+          <h2>Screen Reader Testing Instructions:</h2>
+          <ol>
+            <li>Enable your screen reader (VoiceOver, NVDA, JAWS, etc.)</li>
+            <li>Tab through the form fields</li>
+            <li>When you tab away from an empty required field, the error should be announced immediately</li>
+            <li>The error text should be announced BEFORE the next field is announced</li>
+            <li>Test in Chrome, Safari, and Firefox to verify consistent behavior</li>
+          </ol>
+        </div>
+
+        <div class="grid">
+          <div>
+            <h2>Required Field</h2>
+            <ion-radio-group
+              id="fruits-radio-group"
+              helper-text="You must select one to continue"
+              error-text="Please select a fruit"
+              allow-empty-selection="true"
+              required
+            >
+              <ion-radio value="grapes">Grapes</ion-radio><br />
+              <ion-radio value="strawberries">Strawberries</ion-radio>
+            </ion-radio-group>
+          </div>
+
+          <div>
+            <h2>Optional Field (No Validation)</h2>
+            <ion-radio-group
+              id="optional-radio-group"
+              helper-text="You can skip this field"
+              allow-empty-selection="true"
+            >
+              <ion-radio value="cucumbers">Cucumbers</ion-radio><br />
+              <ion-radio value="tomatoes">Tomatoes</ion-radio>
+            </ion-radio-group>
+          </div>
+        </div>
+
+        <div class="ion-padding">
+          <ion-button id="submit-btn" expand="block" disabled>Submit Form</ion-button>
+          <ion-button id="reset-btn" expand="block" fill="outline">Reset Form</ion-button>
+        </div>
+      </ion-content>
+    </ion-app>
+
+    <script>
+      // Simple validation logic
+      const radioGroups = document.querySelectorAll('ion-radio-group');
+      const submitBtn = document.getElementById('submit-btn');
+      const resetBtn = document.getElementById('reset-btn');
+
+      // Track which fields have been touched
+      const touchedFields = new Set();
+
+      // Validation functions
+      const validators = {
+        'fruits-radio-group': (value) => {
+          return value !== '' && value !== undefined;
+        },
+        'optional-radio-group': () => true, // Always valid
+      };
+
+      function validateField(radioGroup) {
+        const radioGroupId = radioGroup.id;
+        const value = radioGroup.value;
+        const isValid = validators[radioGroupId] ? validators[radioGroupId](value) : true;
+
+        // Only show validation state if field has been touched
+        if (touchedFields.has(radioGroupId)) {
+          if (isValid) {
+            radioGroup.classList.remove('ion-invalid');
+            radioGroup.classList.add('ion-valid');
+          } else {
+            radioGroup.classList.remove('ion-valid');
+            radioGroup.classList.add('ion-invalid');
+          }
+          radioGroup.classList.add('ion-touched');
+        }
+
+        return isValid;
+      }
+
+      function validateForm() {
+        let allValid = true;
+        radioGroups.forEach((radioGroup) => {
+          if (radioGroup.id !== 'optional-radio-group') {
+            const isValid = validateField(radioGroup);
+            if (!isValid) {
+              allValid = false;
+            }
+          }
+        });
+        submitBtn.disabled = !allValid;
+        return allValid;
+      }
+
+      // Add event listeners
+      radioGroups.forEach((radioGroup) => {
+        // Mark as touched on blur
+        radioGroup.addEventListener('ionBlur', (e) => {
+          console.log('Blur event on:', radioGroup.id);
+          touchedFields.add(radioGroup.id);
+          validateField(radioGroup);
+          validateForm();
+
+          const isInvalid = radioGroup.classList.contains('ion-invalid');
+          if (isInvalid) {
+            console.log('Field marked invalid:', radioGroup.id, radioGroup.errorText);
+          }
+        });
+
+        // Validate on change
+        radioGroup.addEventListener('ionChange', (e) => {
+          console.log('Change event on:', radioGroup.id);
+          if (touchedFields.has(radioGroup.id)) {
+            validateField(radioGroup);
+            validateForm();
+          }
+        });
+      });
+
+      // Reset button
+      resetBtn.addEventListener('click', () => {
+        radioGroups.forEach((radioGroup) => {
+          radioGroup.value = '';
+          radioGroup.classList.remove('ion-valid', 'ion-invalid', 'ion-touched');
+        });
+        touchedFields.clear();
+        submitBtn.disabled = true;
+      });
+
+      // Submit button
+      submitBtn.addEventListener('click', () => {
+        if (validateForm()) {
+          alert('Form submitted successfully!');
+        }
+      });
+
+      // Initial setup
+      validateForm();
+    </script>
+  </body>
+</html>