diff --git a/examples/focus-order.rs b/examples/focus-order.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..94776ac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/focus-order.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+use std::process::exit;
+
+use gooey::value::{Dynamic, MapEach, StringValue};
+use gooey::widget::{MakeWidget, MakeWidgetWithId, WidgetTag};
+use gooey::widgets::Expand;
+use gooey::Run;
+use kludgine::figures::units::Lp;
+
+/// This example is the same as login, but it has an explicit tab order to
+/// change from the default order (username, password, cancel, log in) to
+/// username, password, log in, cancel.
+fn main() -> gooey::Result {
+    let username = Dynamic::default();
+    let password = Dynamic::default();
+
+    let valid =
+        (&username, &password).map_each(|(username, password)| validate(username, password));
+
+    let (login_tag, login_id) = WidgetTag::new();
+    let (cancel_tag, cancel_id) = WidgetTag::new();
+    let (username_tag, username_id) = WidgetTag::new();
+
+    // TODO this should be a grid layout to ensure proper visual alignment.
+    let username_row = "Username"
+        .and(
+            username
+                .clone()
+                .into_input()
+                .make_with_id(username_tag)
+                .expand(),
+        )
+        .into_columns();
+
+    let password_row = "Password"
+        .and(
+            // TODO secure input
+            password
+                .clone()
+                .into_input()
+                .with_next_focus(login_id)
+                .expand(),
+        )
+        .into_columns();
+
+    let buttons = "Cancel"
+        .into_button()
+        .on_click(|_| {
+            eprintln!("Login cancelled");
+            exit(0)
+        })
+        .make_with_id(cancel_tag)
+        .into_escape()
+        .with_next_focus(username_id)
+        .and(Expand::empty())
+        .and(
+            "Log In"
+                .into_button()
+                .enabled(valid)
+                .on_click(move |_| {
+                    println!("Welcome, {}", username.get());
+                    exit(0);
+                })
+                .make_with_id(login_tag)
+                .into_default()
+                .with_next_focus(cancel_id),
+        )
+        .into_columns();
+
+    username_row
+        .pad()
+        .and(password_row.pad())
+        .and(buttons.pad())
+        .into_rows()
+        .contain()
+        .width(Lp::points(300)..Lp::points(600))
+        .scroll()
+        .centered()
+        .expand()
+        .run()
+}
+
+fn validate(username: &String, password: &String) -> bool {
+    !username.is_empty() && !password.is_empty()
+}
diff --git a/src/context.rs b/src/context.rs
index e487a18..a7cc3ae 100644
--- a/src/context.rs
+++ b/src/context.rs
@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@ use kludgine::shapes::{Shape, StrokeOptions};
 use kludgine::{Color, Kludgine};
 
 use crate::graphics::Graphics;
-use crate::styles::components::{HighlightColor, WidgetBackground};
-use crate::styles::{ComponentDefinition, Styles, Theme, ThemePair, VisualOrder};
+use crate::styles::components::{HighlightColor, LayoutOrder, WidgetBackground};
+use crate::styles::{ComponentDefinition, Styles, Theme, ThemePair};
 use crate::utils::IgnorePoison;
 use crate::value::{Dynamic, IntoValue, Value};
 use crate::widget::{EventHandling, ManagedWidget, WidgetId, WidgetInstance, WidgetRef};
@@ -235,10 +235,12 @@ impl<'context, 'window> EventContext<'context, 'window> {
                     .accept_focus(&mut self.for_other(&focus))
                 {
                     break Some(focus);
-                } else if let Some(next_focus) = focus.next_focus() {
+                } else if let Some(next_focus) =
+                    focus.explicit_focus_target(self.pending_state.focus_is_advancing)
+                {
                     focus = next_focus;
                 } else {
-                    break self.next_focus_after(focus, VisualOrder::left_to_right());
+                    break self.next_focus_after(focus, self.pending_state.focus_is_advancing);
                 }
             });
             let new = match self
@@ -272,17 +274,17 @@ impl<'context, 'window> EventContext<'context, 'window> {
     fn next_focus_after(
         &mut self,
         mut focus: ManagedWidget,
-        order: VisualOrder,
+        advance: bool,
     ) -> Option<ManagedWidget> {
         // First, look within the current focus for any focusable children.
         let stop_at = focus.id();
-        if let Some(focus) = self.next_focus_within(&focus, None, stop_at, order) {
+        if let Some(focus) = self.next_focus_within(&focus, None, stop_at, advance) {
             return Some(focus);
         }
 
         // Now, look for the next widget in each hierarchy
         let root = loop {
-            if let Some(focus) = self.next_focus_sibling(&focus, stop_at, order) {
+            if let Some(focus) = self.next_focus_sibling(&focus, stop_at, advance) {
                 return Some(focus);
             }
             let Some(parent) = focus.parent() else {
@@ -293,16 +295,16 @@ impl<'context, 'window> EventContext<'context, 'window> {
 
         // We've exhausted a forward scan, we can now start searching the final
         // parent, which is the root.
-        self.next_focus_within(&root, None, stop_at, order)
+        self.next_focus_within(&root, None, stop_at, advance)
     }
 
     fn next_focus_sibling(
         &mut self,
         focus: &ManagedWidget,
         stop_at: WidgetId,
-        order: VisualOrder,
+        advance: bool,
     ) -> Option<ManagedWidget> {
-        self.next_focus_within(&focus.parent()?, Some(focus.id()), stop_at, order)
+        self.next_focus_within(&focus.parent()?, Some(focus.id()), stop_at, advance)
     }
 
     /// Searches for the next focus inside of `focus`, returning `None` if
@@ -313,10 +315,14 @@ impl<'context, 'window> EventContext<'context, 'window> {
         focus: &ManagedWidget,
         start_at: Option<WidgetId>,
         stop_at: WidgetId,
-        order: VisualOrder,
+        advance: bool,
     ) -> Option<ManagedWidget> {
+        let mut visual_order = self.get(&LayoutOrder);
+        if !advance {
+            visual_order = visual_order.rev();
+        }
         let mut children = focus
-            .visually_ordered_children(order)
+            .visually_ordered_children(visual_order)
             .into_iter()
             .peekable();
         if let Some(start_at) = start_at {
@@ -340,7 +346,9 @@ impl<'context, 'window> EventContext<'context, 'window> {
                 .accept_focus(&mut self.for_other(&child))
             {
                 return Some(child);
-            } else if let Some(focus) = self.next_focus_within(&child, None, stop_at, order) {
+            } else if let Some(next_focus) = self.widget().explicit_focus_target(advance) {
+                return Some(next_focus);
+            } else if let Some(focus) = self.next_focus_within(&child, None, stop_at, advance) {
                 return Some(focus);
             }
         }
@@ -348,14 +356,31 @@ impl<'context, 'window> EventContext<'context, 'window> {
         None
     }
 
-    /// Advances the focus from this widget to the next widget in `direction`.
+    /// Advances the focus to the next widget after this widget in the
+    /// configured focus order.
     ///
-    /// This widget does not need to be focused.
-    pub fn advance_focus(&mut self, direction: VisualOrder) {
-        // TODO check to see if the current node has an explicit next_focus (or
-        // if we're going in the opposite direction, previous_focus).
+    /// To focus in the reverse order, use [`EventContext::return_focus()`].
+    pub fn advance_focus(&mut self) {
+        self.move_focus(true);
+    }
 
-        self.pending_state.focus = self.next_focus_after(self.current_node.clone(), direction);
+    /// Returns the focus to the previous widget before this widget in the
+    /// configured fous order.
+    ///
+    /// To focus in the forward order, use [`EventContext::advance_focus()`].
+    pub fn return_focus(&mut self) {
+        self.move_focus(false);
+    }
+
+    fn move_focus(&mut self, advance: bool) {
+        if let Some(explicit_next_focus) = self.current_node.explicit_focus_target(advance) {
+            self.for_other(&explicit_next_focus).focus();
+        } else {
+            self.pending_state.focus = self.next_focus_after(self.current_node.clone(), advance);
+        }
+        // It is important to set focus-is_advancing after `focus()` because it
+        // sets it to `true` explicitly.
+        self.pending_state.focus_is_advancing = advance;
     }
 }
 
@@ -702,6 +727,7 @@ impl<'context, 'window> WidgetContext<'context, 'window> {
                     .tree
                     .active_widget()
                     .and_then(|id| current_node.tree.widget_from_node(id)),
+                focus_is_advancing: false,
             }),
             effective_styles: current_node.effective_styles(),
             current_node,
@@ -783,6 +809,7 @@ impl<'context, 'window> WidgetContext<'context, 'window> {
     /// Widget events relating to focus changes are deferred until after the all
     /// contexts for the currently firing event are dropped.
     pub fn focus(&mut self) {
+        self.pending_state.focus_is_advancing = true;
         self.pending_state.focus = Some(self.current_node.clone());
     }
 
@@ -1045,6 +1072,7 @@ enum PendingState<'a> {
 
 #[derive(Default)]
 struct PendingWidgetState {
+    focus_is_advancing: bool,
     focus: Option<ManagedWidget>,
     active: Option<ManagedWidget>,
 }
diff --git a/src/tree.rs b/src/tree.rs
index 927e69b..3d23f82 100644
--- a/src/tree.rs
+++ b/src/tree.rs
@@ -56,12 +56,8 @@ impl Tree {
             let parent = &mut data.nodes[parent];
             parent.children.push(node_id);
         }
-        if let Some(next_focus) = widget
-            .next_focus()
-            .and_then(|id| data.nodes_by_id.get(&id))
-            .copied()
-        {
-            data.previous_focuses.insert(next_focus, node_id);
+        if let Some(next_focus) = widget.next_focus() {
+            data.previous_focuses.insert(next_focus, id);
         }
         ManagedWidget {
             node_id,
@@ -252,6 +248,12 @@ impl Tree {
         data.update_tracked_widget(new_focus, self, |data| &mut data.focus)
     }
 
+    pub fn previous_focus(&self, focus: WidgetId) -> Option<ManagedWidget> {
+        let data = self.data.lock().ignore_poison();
+        let previous = *data.previous_focuses.get(&focus)?;
+        data.widget_from_id(previous, self)
+    }
+
     pub fn activate(
         &self,
         new_active: Option<&ManagedWidget>,
@@ -372,7 +374,7 @@ struct TreeData {
     defaults: Vec<LotId>,
     escapes: Vec<LotId>,
     render_order: Vec<LotId>,
-    previous_focuses: AHashMap<LotId, LotId>,
+    previous_focuses: AHashMap<WidgetId, WidgetId>,
 }
 
 impl TreeData {
@@ -435,17 +437,16 @@ impl TreeData {
         parent.children.remove(index);
         let mut detached_nodes = removed_node.children;
 
-        if let Some(next_focus) = removed_node
-            .widget
-            .next_focus()
-            .and_then(|id| self.nodes_by_id.get(&id))
-        {
-            self.previous_focuses.remove(next_focus);
+        if let Some(next_focus) = removed_node.widget.next_focus() {
+            self.previous_focuses.remove(&next_focus);
         }
 
         while let Some(node) = detached_nodes.pop() {
             let mut node = self.nodes.remove(node).expect("detached node missing");
             self.nodes_by_id.remove(&node.widget.id());
+            if let Some(next_focus) = node.widget.next_focus() {
+                self.previous_focuses.remove(&next_focus);
+            }
             detached_nodes.append(&mut node.children);
         }
     }
diff --git a/src/widget.rs b/src/widget.rs
index 45cb12d..be850d9 100644
--- a/src/widget.rs
+++ b/src/widget.rs
@@ -1081,6 +1081,26 @@ impl ManagedWidget {
             .and_then(|next_focus| self.tree.widget(next_focus))
     }
 
+    /// Returns the widget to focus before this widget.
+    ///
+    /// There is no direct way to set this value. This relationship is created
+    /// automatically using [`MakeWidget::with_next_focus()`].
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn previous_focus(&self) -> Option<ManagedWidget> {
+        self.tree.previous_focus(self.id())
+    }
+
+    /// Returns the next or previous focus target, if one was set using
+    /// [`MakeWidget::with_next_focus()`].
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn explicit_focus_target(&self, advance: bool) -> Option<ManagedWidget> {
+        if advance {
+            self.next_focus()
+        } else {
+            self.previous_focus()
+        }
+    }
+
     /// Returns the region that the widget was last rendered at.
     #[must_use]
     pub fn last_layout(&self) -> Option<Rect<Px>> {
diff --git a/src/window.rs b/src/window.rs
index 8a0173f..a0ab113 100644
--- a/src/window.rs
+++ b/src/window.rs
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@ use crate::context::{
     WidgetContext,
 };
 use crate::graphics::Graphics;
-use crate::styles::components::LayoutOrder;
 use crate::styles::ThemePair;
 use crate::tree::Tree;
 use crate::utils::ModifiersExt;
@@ -736,11 +735,11 @@ where
                             ),
                             kludgine,
                         );
-                        let mut visual_order = target.get(&LayoutOrder);
                         if reverse {
-                            visual_order = visual_order.rev();
+                            target.return_focus();
+                        } else {
+                            target.advance_focus();
                         }
-                        target.advance_focus(visual_order);
                     }
                 }
                 Key::Enter => {