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Web Accessibility Checklist – Building Inclusive Web Apps

December 12, 2020

Web accessibility is about making websites usable for everyone, including people with disabilities. This checklist focuses on practical areas where developers can ensure accessibility in their apps.

Use Semantic HTML

Semantic elements help screen readers and other assistive technologies understand your content:

  • Use <header>, <nav>, <main>, <article>, <section>, and <footer>
  • Use <button> instead of clickable <div> or <span>
  • Use <label> elements properly linked to <input> via for and id

Add ALT Text to Images

Every <img> must have a meaningful alt attribute, or alt="" if the image is decorative.

Ensure Keyboard Navigation

Users should be able to:

  • Navigate with the Tab key
  • Activate links and buttons with Enter or Space
  • Avoid getting stuck in keyboard traps

Test this manually or using browser DevTools.

Use ARIA Roles When Needed

Only when semantic HTML isn’t enough:

<div role="dialog" aria-labelledby="dialogTitle" aria-describedby="dialogDesc">
  ...
</div>

Common roles:

  • role="button"
  • role="dialog"
  • role="alert"
  • aria-expanded, aria-hidden, etc.

Ensure Sufficient Color Contrast

Check foreground and background color contrast ratios. Aim for:

  • 4.5:1 for normal text
  • 3:1 for large text (18px+ or 14px bold)

Use tools like color-contrast-checker or in-browser extensions.

Provide Focus Styles

Don’t remove focus outlines. If you restyle them, make sure they are clearly visible:

button:focus {
  outline: 2px solid #005fcc;
  outline-offset: 2px;
}

Label Form Fields Clearly

  • Always associate <label>s with form fields
  • Use placeholder text only for hints, not as a label substitute
  • Group related fields using <fieldset> and <legend>

Add Skip Links

Provide a way to skip repetitive content:

<a href="#main-content" class="skip-link">Skip to content</a>

Make the link visible when focused.

Test with Accessibility Tools

  • [axe DevTools] browser extension
  • Lighthouse in Chrome DevTools
  • Screen readers like NVDA (Windows) or VoiceOver (macOS)
  • Keyboard-only navigation

Think About Motion

Reduce unnecessary animations. Respect user preferences:

@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
  * {
    animation: none !important;
    transition: none !important;
  }
}

Accessibility is not a feature. It’s part of good web design. Use this checklist to catch problems early and build more inclusive experiences.

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