Web Accessibility Best Practices

Web Accessibility Best Practices

Web Accessibility Best Practices

Web accessibility means designing and developing websites that can be used by everyone, including people with disabilities. It's not just a nice-to-have feature—it's a legal requirement in many countries and the right thing to do.

Why Accessibility Matters

  • Inclusivity: About 15% of the world's population has some form of disability
  • Legal compliance: Many countries have laws requiring accessible websites
  • Better UX for everyone: Accessible sites are often easier for all users to navigate
  • SEO benefits: Many accessibility practices improve search engine rankings

The WCAG Guidelines

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) provide a framework for making web content accessible. They're organized around four principles, often remembered by the acronym POUR:

  • Perceivable: Information must be presentable to users in ways they can perceive
  • Operable: User interface components must be operable
  • Understandable: Information and operation must be understandable
  • Robust: Content must be robust enough to work with current and future technologies

Semantic HTML

Using the right HTML elements for their intended purpose is the foundation of accessibility.

<!-- Bad: Using divs for everything -->
<div class="header">
  <div class="nav">
    <div class="nav-item">Home</div>
  </div>
</div>

<!-- Good: Using semantic elements -->
<header>
  <nav>
    <ul>
      <li><a href="/">Home</a></li>
    </ul>
  </nav>
</header>

Keyboard Navigation

Ensure all interactive elements are keyboard accessible.

<!-- Bad: Using a div as a button -->
<div class="button" onclick="submitForm()">Submit</div>

<!-- Good: Using a button element -->
<button type="submit">Submit</button>

Focus Management

Users who navigate with keyboards need to see where they are on the page.

/* Make focus visible */
:focus {
  outline: 2px solid #4a90e2;
  outline-offset: 2px;
}

/* Don't hide focus on mouse click (bad practice) */
:focus:not(:focus-visible) {
  outline: none;
}

/* Style focus-visible for keyboard users */
:focus-visible {
  outline: 2px solid #4a90e2;
  outline-offset: 2px;
}

Alternative Text for Images

Provide descriptive alt text for images that convey information.

<!-- Informative image needs descriptive alt text -->
<img src="chart.png" alt="Bar chart showing sales increasing 25% in Q4 2022">

<!-- Decorative image should have empty alt -->
<img src="decorative-line.png" alt="">

<!-- Complex images might need extended descriptions -->
<figure>
  <img src="complex-diagram.png" alt="System architecture diagram">
  <figcaption>
    System architecture showing data flow between user interface, 
    API layer, and database. <a href="diagram-description.html">View detailed description</a>
  </figcaption>
</figure>

Color and Contrast

Ensure sufficient color contrast and don't rely solely on color to convey information.

/* Good contrast ratio (at least 4.5:1 for normal text) */
.text {
  color: #333; /* Dark gray */
  background-color: #fff; /* White */
}

/* Don't rely only on color for links */
a {
  color: #0066cc;
  text-decoration: underline; /* Visual indicator beyond color */
}

ARIA When Necessary

ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) attributes can enhance accessibility when HTML alone isn't enough.

<!-- Custom dropdown menu -->
<div role="combobox" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="dropdown-list">
  <button aria-haspopup="listbox">Select an option</button>
  <ul id="dropdown-list" role="listbox" hidden>
    <li role="option">Option 1</li>
    <li role="option">Option 2</li>
  </ul>
</div>

<!-- Live region for dynamic content -->
<div aria-live="polite" aria-atomic="true">
  <!-- Content that updates dynamically -->
</div>

Remember: No ARIA is better than bad ARIA. Only use ARIA when necessary and ensure you're using it correctly.

Form Accessibility

Forms are often challenging for users with disabilities.

<!-- Accessible form -->
<form>
  <div>
    <label for="name">Name:</label>
    <input type="text" id="name" name="name" required>
  </div>
  
  <div>
    <label for="email">Email:</label>
    <input type="email" id="email" name="email" 
           aria-describedby="email-hint" required>
    <p id="email-hint">We'll never share your email with anyone else.</p>
  </div>
  
  <div>
    <fieldset>
      <legend>Subscription type:</legend>
      <div>
        <input type="radio" id="monthly" name="subscription" value="monthly">
        <label for="monthly">Monthly</label>
      </div>
      <div>
        <input type="radio" id="yearly" name="subscription" value="yearly">
        <label for="yearly">Yearly</label>
      </div>
    </fieldset>
  </div>
  
  <button type="submit">Subscribe</button>
</form>

Testing Accessibility

Use a combination of automated and manual testing:

  1. Automated tools: Lighthouse, axe, WAVE
  2. Screen reader testing: NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver
  3. Keyboard-only navigation: Try using your site without a mouse
  4. Color contrast checkers: WebAIM Contrast Checker
  5. User testing: Include people with disabilities in your testing process

Conclusion

Accessibility is not a checklist but a continuous process. By incorporating these practices into your development workflow, you'll create websites that are usable by more people and often provide a better experience for all users.

Remember that accessibility benefits everyone—not just users with permanent disabilities. People with temporary limitations (like a broken arm), situational limitations (like bright sunlight on a screen), or age-related changes all benefit from accessible design.