Building Accessible Websites: Best Practices and Techniques
Tags: webdev, a11y, fullstack, ux
Published: 2024-04-04 16:47:30


One of the big advantages of the web is its universality. It allows people to access information beyond their local barriers, and it can be a powerful tool to ensure equal access and usability for all users, especially those with disabilities. When building a website, it's essential to make accessibility a part of the development process, starting on day one. In this guide, we'll explore practical techniques and best practices for building accessible websites.

## **Semantic HTML**

Semantic HTML provides structure and meaning to web content, making it easier for assistive technologies to interpret and navigate. When possible, use the appropriate tags to structure the layout, such as `<header>`, `<nav>`, `<main>`, `<footer>`, and `<section>`, and proper `aria-label` and `aria-role` attributes when no semantic tag is available.

## **Color Contrast**

Ensure that text and interactive elements have sufficient color contrast to be easily readable for users with low vision or color blindness. Use tools like [WebAIM's Color Contrast Checker](https://webaim.org/resources/contrastchecker/) to evaluate color combinations and ensure compliance with accessibility standards. WCAG guidelines state that normal size text should have a contrast ratio of 4:5:1.

## **Keyboard Navigation**

Keyboard navigation is essential for users who cannot use a mouse or other pointing devices. Ensure that all interactive elements in your project are accessible via keyboard navigation. Avoid scrambling the order of your elements with CSS styles like `float` or `absolute` positioning, the keyboard navigation should follow the DOM order of your components. You can use the `tabindex` attribute to define the tab order of focusable elements and ensure that focus states are visually apparent, but be careful to not overuse it and avoid `tabindex` with positive numbers.

## **Images and Animations**

Images should include descriptive alternative text (`alt`) to provide context for users who cannot see them. Avoid using images with text and/or for critical content and functionalities whenever possible. A best practice is opting for SVG’s files, that will ensure that your images don’t lose quality when using screen magnifiers.

For animations, it is important to consider factors such as motion sensitivity and cognitive load. For that reason, opt for subtle animations that enhance the user experience without being distracting or overwhelming. Also ensure that, if the content blinks or flashes, it respects WCAG guidelines that states that webpages cannot “contain anything that flashes more than three times in any one second period”.

It is important to provide control options that allow users to pause, stop, hide or adjust the speed of animations. If your animations trigger events, make sure that it can be controlled and activated using keyboard navigation alone.

## **Accessibility Testing**

It is good practice to regularly test your project for accessibility. You can use automated tools, like [Axe](https://www.deque.com/axe/devtools/) and [Wave](https://wave.webaim.org/), and manual testing methods, like no-mouse challenge and assistive technologies such as screen readers and magnifiers, to ensure that your project is accessible to all users.

## **Conclusion**

Implementing accessibility in a project is essential for creating a more inclusive web experience. It should be treated as a priority and never left as a last step, not only for its importance but also because, as a developer myself, I can assure you that it is easier to implement it if made synchronously. As technology continues to evolve, it's essential for developers to prioritize accessibility and ensure that the web will become an inclusive space for all.