ARIA Accessibility: The Key to Inclusive Web Design
#ARIA #accessibledevelopment #WCAG
Creating a truly inclusive web experience means ensuring everyone, regardless of ability, can navigate and interact with your site. This is where ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) comes in.
A number of web developers are choosing to use ARIA because of how well it integrates with assistive technologies such as screen readers. It’s what helps bridge the gap between accessibility issues and HTML.
If you’re still on the fence about whether ARIA should form part of your web development process, here’s what you need to know.
ARIA can help make modern, interactive web applications accessible to users with disabilities.
Many advanced web elements, such as dropdown menus, modals, and sliders, are not inherently recognized by assistive technologies like screen readers. ARIA attributes provide the semantic information needed for these tools to interpret and communicate the functionality of these elements to users.
By using ARIA, developers can ensure that everyone can navigate and interact with a website and benefit from all the functionality.
By creating an accessible website you are naturally complying with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and acts such as the ADA, but more importantly, you’re also creating an inclusive digital environment that empowers all users.
Before we get into the specifics of ARIA, let’s look at some of the most common misconceptions.
Adding ARIA attributes doesn’t automatically make a website accessible. It can enhance your accessibility efforts but it doesn’t replace HTML semantics. Proper use of native HTML elements, which are inherently accessible, should always be a priority.
While ARIA significantly improves screen reader functionality, it also aids other assistive technologies and keyboard navigation, ensuring a better experience for a broader audience.
The incorrect use of ARIA can create confusion for assistive technologies, leading to worse accessibility outcomes. ARIA attributes should only be used when necessary and in accordance with best practices to avoid confusing disabled website visitors.
ARIA is just one part of accessibility. Testing with real users, including those who use assistive technologies, is essential to ensure your website is truly accessible.
Before implementing ARIA attributes, it’s important to understand the difference between roles, states, and properties.
ARIA roles define the type or purpose of an element on a web page. It helps assistive technologies understand its functionality. For example, roles like button, alert, or navigation convey what an element is meant to do or represent.
ARIA states represent the dynamic properties of an element that can change as the user interacts with it. For example, the aria-expanded state indicates whether a collapsible menu or section is open (true) or closed (false).
ARIA properties provide additional information about an element that is not typically conveyed by HTML alone. For example, aria-label provides a custom label for an element, while aria-labelledby links an element to a descriptive label elsewhere in a document. Properties help clarify the element’s purpose or behavior for users who rely on assistive technologies.
When developing an accessible website, ARIA won’t always be necessary. However, there are a few scenarios where ARIA is recommended.
Example: Adding a custom label for a non-standard button. Developers can use aria-label to provide a more descriptive name, e.g., for an icon button like a magnifying glass for search:
Example: Clarifying regions in a document.
Use role=”navigation” to indicate a navigation landmark, ensuring better structure for screen readers.
Example: Informing assistive technologies about content changes.
Developers can use aria-live to notify users of dynamically updating sections (e.g., a chat box or notifications):
Example: Creating custom controls like sliders, modals, or tabs.
Add roles like role=”tab” and states like aria-selected=”true” to define their purpose and current state:
Example: Implementing a dropdown menu.
Use aria-haspopup=”menu” and aria-expanded to indicate functionality and current state:
<button aria-haspopup="menu" aria-expanded="false">Options</button>
<ul role="menu">
<li role="menuitem">Option 1</li>
</ul>
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Example: Adding descriptions for better context.
Developers can use aria-describedby to link an element to additional information:
<input id="email" type="email" aria-describedby="emailHelp">
<small id="emailHelp">We'll never share your email with anyone else.</small>
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Once you start implementing ARIA on your site, here are some best practices to keep in mind.
So, we know that ARIA can support your web accessibility efforts, but how does it fit in with WCAG guidelines?
ARIA helps make web content perceivable by users with disabilities, particularly those who rely on assistive technologies.
Info and Relationships
ARIA roles and properties convey relationships such as associating labels with controls.
Example:
<input id="username" aria-labelledby="usernameLabel">
<label id="usernameLabel">Username</label>
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Meaningful Sequence
ARIA landmarks such as role=”main”, role=”banner” help define the structure of a document, ensuring content is read in the correct order.
Contrast (Minimum)
ARIA does not directly address visual contrast but can enhance perceivability for non-visual users through properties like aria-live.
ARIA also ensures that web content and interfaces are navigable and operable for users who rely on keyboards or assistive technologies.
Keyboard
ARIA attributes like tabindex and roles like role=”button” make custom interactive elements keyboard-operable.
Example:
Bypass Blocks
ARIA landmarks like role=”navigation” and role=”main” help users skip repetitive content and navigate directly to key sections.
Headings and Labels
ARIA properties like aria-label and aria-labelledby provide accessible names and labels for better navigation.
ARIA enhances clarity and understanding by providing meaningful information about the purpose, state, and behavior of elements.
On Focus and On Input
ARIA states like aria-expanded and aria-checked dynamically communicate changes in element behavior or status.
Example:
Labels or Instructions
ARIA properties like aria-describedby provide additional context or guidance for input fields.
Example:
<input aria-describedby="passwordHelp">
<div id="passwordHelp">Must be at least 8 characters.</div>
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Lastly, ARIA improves compatibility between modern, interactive web content and assistive technologies, making your site more robust.
Name, Role, Value
ARIA defines the role, state, and properties of interactive elements, ensuring assistive technologies can accurately interpret them.
Example:
Here are some of the essential ARIA techniques that developers should work into their processes if they want to meet WCAG success criteria.
Landmarks help users navigate and understand the structure of a page.
WCAG Alignment: Supports 2.4.1 Bypass Blocks by enabling users to skip repetitive content.
ARIA Techniques: Use roles such as role=”banner”, role=”navigation”, role=”main”, role=”complementary”, and role=”contentinfo”.
Example:
<header role="banner">Site Header</header>
<nav role="navigation">Menu</nav>
<main role="main">Main Content</main>
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It’s important to inform assistive technologies about changes in dynamic content.
WCAG Alignment: Supports 4.1.3 Status Messages, which ensures users are aware of changes without losing focus.
ARIA Techniques: Use aria-live attributes (polite, assertive) to announce updates.
Example:
Make custom components like tabs, sliders, and modals accessible.
WCAG Alignment: Supports 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value by providing clear semantics for custom elements.
ARIA Techniques: Assign roles (e.g., role=”tab”, role=”slider”) and states (e.g., aria-selected, aria-expanded).
Example:
<div role="tablist">
<button role="tab" aria-selected="true">Tab 1</button>
<button role="tab" aria-selected="false">Tab 2</button>
</div>
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Provide additional guidance or labels for form controls.
WCAG Alignment: Supports 1.3.1 Info and Relationships and 3.3.2 Labels or Instructions.
ARIA Techniques:
Example:
<input id="email" aria-describedby="emailHelp">
<div id="emailHelp">Enter a valid email address.</div>
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Inform users about the state of elements (e.g., visibility, selection).
WCAG Alignment: Supports 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value.
ARIA Techniques:
Example:
<button aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="menu">Toggle Menu</button>
<ul id="menu" aria-hidden="true">...</ul>
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Make complex tables easier to navigate.
WCAG Alignment: Supports 1.3.1 Info and Relationships.
ARIA Techniques:
Example:
<table>
<thead role="rowgroup">
<tr role="row">
<th role="columnheader">Name</th>
<th role="columnheader">Age</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody role="rowgroup">
<tr role="row">
<td role="cell">Alice</td>
<td role="cell">30</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
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Ensure all interactive elements have meaningful labels.
WCAG Alignment: Supports 2.4.6 Headings and Labels.
ARIA Techniques: Use aria-label for custom labels and aria-labelledby to reference existing labels.
Example:
Control focus and announce changes in focus.
WCAG Alignment: Supports 2.1.1 Keyboard and 2.4.3 Focus Order.
ARIA Techniques:
Example:
<ul role="listbox" aria-activedescendant="option1">
<li id="option1" role="option">Option 1</li>
</ul>
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Define relationships between elements, such as form fields and their labels.
WCAG Alignment: Supports 1.3.1 Info and Relationships.
ARIA Techniques: Use aria-labelledby and aria-controls to define relationships.
Example:
<button aria-controls="details">Show Details</button>
<div id="details">Additional Information</div>
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ARIA can be a powerful tool for developers who want to create more inclusive online experiences for users.
By sticking to the ARIA best practices and testing your implementation, your site can achieve a compliant status more easily and attract and engage more visitors too.
If you’re ready to get started and want to see where your website stands in terms of web accessibility compliance, you can use the AccessibilityChecker tool for free.
Scan your website for accessibility related issues for free