diff --git a/src/cdk/a11y/a11y-module.ts b/src/cdk/a11y/a11y-module.ts
index 1cb501da20d..27b754af6a4 100644
--- a/src/cdk/a11y/a11y-module.ts
+++ b/src/cdk/a11y/a11y-module.ts
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
  */
 
 import {NgModule} from '@angular/core';
-import {FocusTrapDeprecatedDirective, FocusTrapDirective, FocusTrapFactory} from './focus-trap';
+import {FocusTrapDeprecatedDirective, CdkTrapFocus, FocusTrapFactory} from './focus-trap';
 import {LIVE_ANNOUNCER_PROVIDER} from './live-announcer';
 import {InteractivityChecker} from './interactivity-checker';
 import {CommonModule} from '@angular/common';
@@ -17,8 +17,8 @@ import {CdkMonitorFocus, FOCUS_MONITOR_PROVIDER} from './focus-monitor';
 
 @NgModule({
   imports: [CommonModule, PlatformModule],
-  declarations: [FocusTrapDirective, FocusTrapDeprecatedDirective, CdkMonitorFocus],
-  exports: [FocusTrapDirective, FocusTrapDeprecatedDirective, CdkMonitorFocus],
+  declarations: [CdkTrapFocus, FocusTrapDeprecatedDirective, CdkMonitorFocus],
+  exports: [CdkTrapFocus, FocusTrapDeprecatedDirective, CdkMonitorFocus],
   providers: [
     InteractivityChecker,
     FocusTrapFactory,
diff --git a/src/cdk/a11y/focus-trap.spec.ts b/src/cdk/a11y/focus-trap.spec.ts
index bb3657308f1..13cbc9ca1c0 100644
--- a/src/cdk/a11y/focus-trap.spec.ts
+++ b/src/cdk/a11y/focus-trap.spec.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import {Platform} from '@angular/cdk/platform';
 import {Component, ViewChild} from '@angular/core';
 import {async, ComponentFixture, TestBed} from '@angular/core/testing';
-import {FocusTrap, FocusTrapDirective, FocusTrapFactory} from './focus-trap';
+import {FocusTrap, CdkTrapFocus, FocusTrapFactory} from './focus-trap';
 import {InteractivityChecker} from './interactivity-checker';
 
 
@@ -10,12 +10,13 @@ describe('FocusTrap', () => {
   beforeEach(async(() => {
     TestBed.configureTestingModule({
       declarations: [
-        FocusTrapDirective,
+        CdkTrapFocus,
         FocusTrapWithBindings,
         SimpleFocusTrap,
         FocusTrapTargets,
         FocusTrapWithSvg,
         FocusTrapWithoutFocusableElements,
+        FocusTrapWithAutoCapture,
       ],
       providers: [InteractivityChecker, Platform, FocusTrapFactory]
     });
@@ -154,6 +155,27 @@ describe('FocusTrap', () => {
       expect(() => focusTrapInstance.focusLastTabbableElement()).not.toThrow();
     });
   });
+
+  describe('with autoCapture', () => {
+    it('should automatically capture and return focus on init / destroy', async(() => {
+      const fixture = TestBed.createComponent(FocusTrapWithAutoCapture);
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+
+      const buttonOutsideTrappedRegion = fixture.nativeElement.querySelector('button');
+      buttonOutsideTrappedRegion.focus();
+      expect(document.activeElement).toBe(buttonOutsideTrappedRegion);
+
+      fixture.componentInstance.showTrappedRegion = true;
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+
+      fixture.whenStable().then(() => {
+        expect(document.activeElement.id).toBe('auto-capture-target');
+
+        fixture.destroy();
+        expect(document.activeElement).toBe(buttonOutsideTrappedRegion);
+      });
+    }));
+  });
 });
 
 
@@ -166,7 +188,21 @@ describe('FocusTrap', () => {
     `
 })
 class SimpleFocusTrap {
-  @ViewChild(FocusTrapDirective) focusTrapDirective: FocusTrapDirective;
+  @ViewChild(CdkTrapFocus) focusTrapDirective: CdkTrapFocus;
+}
+
+@Component({
+  template: `
+    <button type="button">Toggle</button>
+    <div *ngIf="showTrappedRegion" cdkTrapFocus cdkTrapFocusAutoCapture>
+      <input id="auto-capture-target">
+      <button>SAVE</button>
+    </div>
+    `
+})
+class FocusTrapWithAutoCapture {
+  @ViewChild(CdkTrapFocus) focusTrapDirective: CdkTrapFocus;
+  showTrappedRegion = false;
 }
 
 
@@ -179,7 +215,7 @@ class SimpleFocusTrap {
     `
 })
 class FocusTrapWithBindings {
-  @ViewChild(FocusTrapDirective) focusTrapDirective: FocusTrapDirective;
+  @ViewChild(CdkTrapFocus) focusTrapDirective: CdkTrapFocus;
   renderFocusTrap = true;
   _isFocusTrapEnabled = true;
 }
@@ -199,7 +235,7 @@ class FocusTrapWithBindings {
     `
 })
 class FocusTrapTargets {
-  @ViewChild(FocusTrapDirective) focusTrapDirective: FocusTrapDirective;
+  @ViewChild(CdkTrapFocus) focusTrapDirective: CdkTrapFocus;
 }
 
 
@@ -213,7 +249,7 @@ class FocusTrapTargets {
     `
 })
 class FocusTrapWithSvg {
-  @ViewChild(FocusTrapDirective) focusTrapDirective: FocusTrapDirective;
+  @ViewChild(CdkTrapFocus) focusTrapDirective: CdkTrapFocus;
 }
 
 @Component({
@@ -224,5 +260,5 @@ class FocusTrapWithSvg {
     `
 })
 class FocusTrapWithoutFocusableElements {
-  @ViewChild(FocusTrapDirective) focusTrapDirective: FocusTrapDirective;
+  @ViewChild(CdkTrapFocus) focusTrapDirective: CdkTrapFocus;
 }
diff --git a/src/cdk/a11y/focus-trap.ts b/src/cdk/a11y/focus-trap.ts
index a89b8cdd0fd..f6e217133c6 100644
--- a/src/cdk/a11y/focus-trap.ts
+++ b/src/cdk/a11y/focus-trap.ts
@@ -348,24 +348,51 @@ export class FocusTrapDeprecatedDirective implements OnDestroy, AfterContentInit
   selector: '[cdkTrapFocus]',
   exportAs: 'cdkTrapFocus',
 })
-export class FocusTrapDirective implements OnDestroy, AfterContentInit {
+export class CdkTrapFocus implements OnDestroy, AfterContentInit {
   /** Underlying FocusTrap instance. */
   focusTrap: FocusTrap;
 
+  /** Previously focused element to restore focus to upon destroy when using autoCapture. */
+  private _previouslyFocusedElement: HTMLElement | null = null;
+
   /** Whether the focus trap is active. */
   @Input('cdkTrapFocus')
   get enabled(): boolean { return this.focusTrap.enabled; }
   set enabled(value: boolean) { this.focusTrap.enabled = coerceBooleanProperty(value); }
 
-  constructor(private _elementRef: ElementRef, private _focusTrapFactory: FocusTrapFactory) {
+  /**
+   * Whether the directive should automatially move focus into the trapped region upon
+   * initialization and return focus to the previous activeElement upon destruction.
+   */
+  @Input('cdkTrapFocusAutoCapture')
+  get autoCapture(): boolean { return this._autoCapture; }
+  set autoCapture(value: boolean) { this._autoCapture = coerceBooleanProperty(value); }
+  private _autoCapture: boolean;
+
+  constructor(
+      private _elementRef: ElementRef,
+      private _focusTrapFactory: FocusTrapFactory,
+      private _platform: Platform) {
     this.focusTrap = this._focusTrapFactory.create(this._elementRef.nativeElement, true);
   }
 
   ngOnDestroy() {
     this.focusTrap.destroy();
+
+    // If we stored a previously focused element when using autoCapture, return focus to that
+    // element now that the trapped region is being destroyed.
+    if (this._previouslyFocusedElement) {
+      this._previouslyFocusedElement.focus();
+      this._previouslyFocusedElement = null;
+    }
   }
 
   ngAfterContentInit() {
     this.focusTrap.attachAnchors();
+
+    if (this.autoCapture && this._platform.isBrowser) {
+      this._previouslyFocusedElement = document.activeElement as HTMLElement;
+      this.focusTrap.focusInitialElementWhenReady();
+    }
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/cdk/a11y/public-api.ts b/src/cdk/a11y/public-api.ts
index c615cd7d5f6..552cd7a5bfc 100644
--- a/src/cdk/a11y/public-api.ts
+++ b/src/cdk/a11y/public-api.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@
  * Use of this source code is governed by an MIT-style license that can be
  * found in the LICENSE file at https://angular.io/license
  */
+import {CdkTrapFocus} from './focus-trap';
+
 
 export * from './activedescendant-key-manager';
 export * from './aria-describer';
@@ -16,3 +18,6 @@ export * from './list-key-manager';
 export * from './live-announcer';
 export * from './focus-monitor';
 export * from './a11y-module';
+
+/** @deprecated Renamed to CdkTrapFocus. */
+export {CdkTrapFocus as FocusTrapDirective};