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Intermediate Topic 24 of 51 Web Development

Web Accessibility

Designing sites usable by people with disabilities.

How it works

Web accessibility ensures people with disabilities, including those using screen readers, keyboards only, voice control, magnification or with color-vision or cognitive differences, can perceive, operate and understand websites. The WCAG guidelines are organized around being perceivable, operable, understandable and robust, with conformance levels A, AA and AAA. Practices include semantic HTML, text alternatives for images, sufficient color contrast, keyboard operability with visible focus, captions and labeled form controls.

Step-by-step walkthrough

  1. Sites must work for everyone.
  2. Every control must be usable from the keyboard.
  3. Screen readers need semantic structure and labels.
  4. Text needs enough colour contrast.
  5. Images need alt text, and WCAG gives the standards.

Where it is used

Public sector, education, commerce and any consumer site need accessibility, often by law, and it also benefits all users, such as in bright light or with temporary injuries.

Common pitfall

Relying only on automated tools finds only part of the problems; manual keyboard and screen-reader testing is needed. Removing focus outlines, using color alone to convey meaning and inaccessible custom widgets are common failures. Build accessibility in from the start and include users with disabilities in testing.

Where it fits in the course

Web Accessibility is topic 24 of 51 in Web Development, rated Intermediate. It follows CSS Animations. The next topic is ARIA.

Practice and explore

How to study this topic

  1. Read the explanation above and restate the definition in your own words.
  2. Open the interactive lesson and answer its mini quiz.
  3. Read the common pitfall, then write a short example that avoids it.
  4. Check your understanding in the Web Development quiz, and revisit the topic if you miss a question.

Frequently asked questions

What is Web Accessibility?
Designing sites usable by people with disabilities. It belongs to Web Development and is an intermediate-level topic.
Where do people use Web Accessibility?
Public sector, education, commerce and any consumer site need accessibility, often by law, and it also benefits all users, such as in bright light or with temporary injuries.
What is the most common mistake with Web Accessibility?
Relying only on automated tools finds only part of the problems; manual keyboard and screen-reader testing is needed.
What should I learn before this topic?
Start with CSS Animations, the topic just before it in Web Development.
How can I practice it?
Answer the mini quiz in the interactive lesson, then take the Web Development quiz.
Is Web Accessibility hard to learn?
It is an Intermediate topic. Be comfortable with the Beginner topics in this area first, then read the common pitfall carefully, since it is where most mistakes happen.
How long does it take to learn Web Accessibility?
Most learners can read the explanation and finish the interactive lesson in under an hour. Fluency comes from applying the idea, so plan a few short practice sessions with the quiz.
Which topics are related to Web Accessibility?
CSS Animations, ARIA, Local Storage and Cookies are closely connected. The full list is in the related topics section of this page.
What should I study after Web Accessibility?
Continue with ARIA, the next topic in Web Development.

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