A11y: Improving app accessibility with ESLint
Tags: a11y, frontend, javascript, reactnative
Published: 2023-08-10 20:32:51

[ESLint React Native A11y Download](https://github.com/FormidableLabs/eslint-plugin-react-native-a11y)

When it comes to developing applications in React Native, ensuring accessibility is an essential aspect of creating inclusive and user-friendly experiences.

This is where the ESLint Plugin React Native A11y comes into play. It's a plugin designed to enhance accessibility in React Native and React applications through the usage of ESLint, a JavaScript code analysis tool.

Let's break this down: while many of us are familiar with the power of a code checker, there's much more to discover with this plugin.

The ESLint Plugin React Native A11y is a tool that goes beyond simple syntax checks. It's crafted to assist in making your React Native applications more accessible during code writing and even when creating actions that run in the repository's pipeline.

This tool can offer ideas on how to fix your code and also remind you that properties need to have the correct types.

## How Does It Work?

1. **Installation:** First, you need to install the plugin package, which is `eslint-plugin-react-native-a11y`. This can be done using the node package manager.

2. **Configuration:** Once installed, you must set up the plugin in your project's `.eslintrc` file. This involves including the plugin in the plugins section and defining the rules you want to enable.

3. **Code Analysis:** With the plugin configured, ESLint will start analysing your code during the development process. It will apply the specific rules of the plugin to check the accessibility of your code.

4. **Feedback and Corrections:** When ESLint identifies accessibility issues in your code, it generates error or warning messages, depending on the severity of the problem. These messages usually include details about the specific problem and, in some cases, suggestions on how to fix it.

5. **Integration into Development Workflow:** You can set up ESLint to run automatically whenever you save a file or before you commit your changes to the version control system. This helps identify and rectify accessibility issues right from the beginning of development.

To implement this in your repository, follow the steps below.

Within the `.eslintrc.js` file, add the snippet below:

```json
module.exports = {
  root: true,
  extends: [
    '@react-native-community',
    'plugin:react-native-a11y/ios'
  ]
};
```

In the same `.eslintrc.js` file, add the rules within the rules object:

```json
rules: {
  'react-native-a11y/has-accessibility-hint': 2,
  'react-native-a11y/has-valid-accessibility-role': 2,
  'react-native-a11y/has-valid-accessibility-state': 2,
  'react-native-a11y/has-valid-accessibility-states': 2,
  'react-native-a11y/has-valid-accessibility-component-type': 2,
  'react-native-a11y/has-valid-accessibility-traits': 2,
  'react-native-a11y/has-valid-accessibility-value': 2,
  'react-native-a11y/no-nested-touchables': 2,
  'react-native-a11y/has-valid-accessibility-descriptors': 2,
  'react-native-a11y/has-valid-accessibility-ignores-invert-colors': 2,
  'react-native-a11y/exhaustive-deps': 2,
  'react-native-a11y/has-valid-accessibility-actions': 2,
  'react-native-a11y/has-accessibility-props': [
    'error',
    {
      touchables: [
        'TouchableOpacity',
        'TouchableHighlight',
        'TouchableWithoutFeedback',
        'TouchableNativeFeedback',
        'TouchableBounce',
        'Pressable',
        'Button',
      ],
    },
  ],
}
```

Once you're done, run the linter as installed in your project, and you'll discover all the accessibility-related errors you can rectify.

In summary, ESLint React Native A11y is a powerful tool that helps ensure your React Native applications are accessible to a broader audience, promoting inclusive practices and enhanced experiences for all users.

If you encounter issues or inconsistencies in the article, please feel free to comment.