Accessibility to Web content is a concept that allows people can use and interact with web-based content regardless of their capabilities. It is crucial to consider accessibility to the internet when creating or developing applications and websites.
Correct HTML markup is essential for making sure that your website is accessible. For example the use of logical headers can help users with screen readers to recognize the layout of your web pages. It is advised to also use the appropriate link description and to provide adequate contrast in colors.
WCAG Guidelines
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are web accessibility standards. accessibility for development of applications. These standards are utilized by front-end developers as well as QA testers and others in the web team to ensure that websites meet the minimal accessibility requirements on websites. WCAG includes thirteen guidelines arranged under four fundamental principles: comprehendable, perceivable, readable and durable, referred to by the acronym the POUR. Each guideline includes testable criteria for success that establish the level of compliance.
Unilever is an multinational conglomerate with 400 brand names that are sold to more than two billion homes across the globe It maintains a site which balances accessibility to the internet as well as aesthetically pleasing designs. Its site is compliant with WCAG guidelines on colors and contrast as well as keyboard navigation and the structure of headings.
One of the most important features of the site is its usage of indicators using visuals that indicate which elements on the page have the focus of a keyboard. This makes it simpler for people to browse and understand the contents of pages using a mouse, and also for screen readers as well as other text-to-speech applications. This approach can also be used for different web-based applications that need only keyboard navigation.
Semantic HTML
Alongside keeping the style and content separate semantic HTML can make your site easier for assistive technologies to understand. When a browser is able to process well-written semantic HTML, the data it displays is sent to assistive technology like screen readers, which interpret it and transformed into the formats the users require.
Additionally to that, using landmarks -a collection of HTML tags used to mark specific areas of your website will ensure that the most important areas of your site are accessible via keyboard to screen readers and text-to-speech people. Also, make sure to provide short description of the images (also called alt attributes) to those who are unable to see or comprehend visual images.
Keyboard Friendly Web Interfaces
Some users browse on the internet using the keyboard instead of the mouse. They can be skilled “power” keyboard users, or have motor limitations that hinder them from making the precise motor actions required for operating the mouse. The key is to make interactivity and navigational elements accessible through tabbing them and then displaying an indicator on the screen that shows the focus of your keyboard.
In other words, if there are input fields that allow entering text, forms or drop-down menus make sure that they are tabbed and clearly indicate their state. Screen readers as well as screen magnifying software utilize the focus indicator to identify which elements are being used at the moment.
It is essential to ensure that the text in a webpage be easily clear and simple to read. This is an essential aspect of website accessibility web application development, especially for those with vision or hearing disabilities or are blind or rely on assistive technologies to navigate the site.
Color Contrast
Utilizing colors that have adequate contrast will ensure that everyone even those who suffer from color blindness, are able to read and browse web pages. Many people who suffer from dyslexia can benefit from high-contrast text, too.
Properties and roles for ARIA define the status of widgets for assistive technology, like screens users. For example the role “search” is used to identify a field on a form for the function of searching. Roles are permanent and don’t alter when a widget is changed, whereas properties change dynamically and are updated whenever a user interacts the widget.