What is web accessibility and why is it important?
Today, we'll look at web development from a different angle, one that is often overlooked and many people aren't even aware of.
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Key takeaways
Web accessibility expands website reach for all users
Following WCAG standards improves SEO
Alt texts for images help both users and search engines
Proper heading structure is key for screen readers
High color contrast ensures readability for everyone
Web accessibility ensures that content is accessible to all users, including those with disabilities or other limitations. Today, adhering to accessibility standards also has a significant impact on a website's success in search engines.
The goal of web accessibility is to make websites easy to use for the widest possible range of users. Let's not forget that users with limited vision, hearing, or motor skills also want to access information, communicate, or shop online just as comfortably as everyone else.
Why is accessibility important?
We've outlined 4 key reasons why accessibility is essential for your website's success:
Expanded reach - An accessible website reaches a wider audience
Improved SEO - Search engines favor accessible websites
Legislative requirements - Accessibility is mandatory in many countries
Better user experience - A well-structured website is more enjoyable for everyone
WCAG accessibility standards
Accessibility standards are set by WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines). These are rules created by the W3C (World Wide Web Consortium). These standards define how pages should be designed to be accessible to the widest possible range of users, including people with disabilities.
The key principles of WCAG are: perceivability, operability, understandability, and robustness.
Practical tips for an accessible website
Alt texts for images Every image should have a descriptive alt text that helps users with visual impairments and search engines understand what the image depicts. Example:
<img src="profile.jpg" alt="Profile picture of John Smith">
Keyboard navigation A website must be usable without a mouse. The basic rule is that you can move between individual elements using the Tab key and interact using the Enter key or spacebar.
Proper heading structure Follow a logical sequence of headings (<h1>, <h2>, etc.) to properly establish content hierarchy.
Form field labels Every form field should have a clear label using the <label> tag so users know what to fill in.
Color contrast Always use colors with high contrast to make text and buttons easily readable. It's recommended to have a contrast ratio between text color and background color of at least 4.5:1.
What else does accessibility involve?
n this article, we've covered the basics. However, there are many other important areas we could explore in more detail—such as ARIA attributes, multimedia content accessibility, responsive design for different devices, or accessibility testing. We'll take a closer look at these topics in future articles!
Accessibility isn't just about expanding reach to a wider audience, but also about better user experience and higher website quality. At NITTIN, we view accessibility as a standard and believe that every website can be a place that welcomes every user—let's create websites for everyone together!