What are the best practices for making web applications accessible using popular programming languages?

Use HTML as it’s intended. In particular, remember to: 1. Use semantic HTML for clickable elements. Anchors take you places, buttons do things. 2. Build proper form HTML markup and relationships. 3. Add alternative text to Informational icons & images and an empty alt attribute to Decorative images. Informational Icon Decorative Icon Informational Image 4. Make sure your headings are in order; avoid skip-level headings, such as an <h3> immediately following an <h1> 5. If your UI includes expandable sections, use proper HTML markup to indicate this behavior.

DOM is a tree-like structure that browser parses to handle our user interfaces. Create a program yourself that prints out the name of the tree node and you will realize the more nodes the tree has the more complicated and time taking computation is performed. The browser is smart, but the over-usage of HTML markup will make the page heavy and use memory which will make the user machine slow. Sometimes, it's not the browser eating RAM, but the webpage you opened.

In my experience- Creating an accessible web application begins with HTML, forming the foundation and providing content structure and semantics. To enhance HTML code accessibility, use appropriate elements for purposes like headings, lists, tables, forms, and images. Ensure descriptive text alternatives for non-text content such as images, audio, video, and icons. Employ meaningful and unique labels for links, buttons, and form controls, either with the `<label>` tag or the aria-label attribute. Organize content using landmarks and headings for logical sections, facilitating navigation with keyboard shortcuts or skip links. Specify language with the lang attribute and handle right-to-left languages using the dir attribute.

1.Use Proper HTML elements and attributes,structure and context for the web content. 2.Provide alternative text for images,captions for videos,transcripts for audio and other media. 3.Use clear and consistent labels,headings,navigation,and feedback for the web interface. 4.Ensure that the web application operated with keyboard, mouse, touch, voice and other input methods. 5.Use sufficient color contrast, font size, and spacing to enhance the readability of the web content. 6.Test the web application with all browsers,devices,platforms and assistive technologies to ensure compatibility and responsiveness. 7.Follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 8.Use evaluation tools to check and improve the web accessibility.

HTML offers everything you need to write a compliance-accessible web page or application. Using semantic HTML with the correct tags and attributes is crucial to accomplish it. Researching and using tools like browse extensions for testing your web or app is a must to provide the best experience for all users.

1. Usage of relative units like em and rem for font sizes and spacing to allow customization by users. 2. Avoid relying solely on color for conveying information. 3. Usage of accessible focus styles for buttons and other interactive elements.

1. CSS rules are applied in a cascading order, meaning that rules from different sources are combined and applied to elements in a specific order. 2. CSS uses selectors to target specific elements on a web page, allowing you to apply styles to specific elements or groups of elements. 3. CSS provides built-in support for animations and transitions, allowing you to create dynamic and engaging user experiences

When styling web applications with CSS, it's crucial to prioritize accessibility. Opt for relative units like percentages or ems over pixels for responsive layouts. Ensure color contrast meets WCAG standards, avoiding reliance on color alone for conveying information. Cater to user preferences with alternative styles, supporting modes like dark or high contrast, utilizing media queries or features like prefers-color-scheme. Simplify maintenance using semantic and custom properties for common values like colors and fonts. Leverage CSS features like cascade and inheritance to prevent duplication and maintain consistency. By following these practices, web developers can enhance both the visual appeal and accessibility of their applications.

Color Contrast: Ensure that text colors contrast sufficiently with background colors for readability. The WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) recommends a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text.Use REM or EM for Font Sizes: These units are relative to the user's default browser font size, allowing users to resize text as needed. Focus Styles: Ensure that all interactive elements like links, buttons, and form fields have visible focus styles to aid keyboard navigation.

1. It is better to use progressive enhancement techniques to ensure basic functionality is available even with JavaScript disabled. 2. Avoid relying solely on JavaScript for navigation and interaction. 3. The usage of ARIA roles and states to provide context for assistive technologies.

Using JavaScript for enhancing a website or app is a real choice but never forget it must be usable by all users. Applying WAI-ARIA specifications, and HTML attributes for roles(like "tabs", "buttons", etc) or states(like "active", "disabled", etc), just to mention two, are a must and not an option. JavaScript interactivity is great, just remember your app or website has to be usable even without it.

1. JavaScript is a powerful tool for creating interactive and dynamic websites. It allows developers to enhance the user experience through features such as responsive design, animations, form validation, and more. 2. By harnessing the capabilities of JavaScript, developers can modify HTML elements, handle user input, and create engaging content that brings websites to life. 3. JavaScript can be used to make web pages more interactive by modifying the Document Object Model (DOM) to customize pages and present dynamic content based on user input. 4. it's important to ensure that JavaScript is used in a way that does not block the critical rendering path and that it is optimized for performance

JavaScript injects life into web apps, but for inclusivity, follow key practices. Embrace progressive enhancement and graceful degradation, ensuring your app functions sans JavaScript. Keep code separate using unobtrusive methods and organize in external files. Leverage DOM and jQuery for efficient HTML manipulation, with jQuery UI or Bootstrap for accessible widgets. Adhere to WAI-ARIA specs for added info and functionality. Implement event listeners and handlers for user actions, using addEventListener and removeEventListener. With these steps, your JavaScript-driven web app delivers both dynamism and accessibility, catering to a broader audience.

Keyboard Accessibility: Make sure all interactive elements are accessible via the keyboard. This includes custom elements created with JavaScript that should be focusable and interactable with keyboard events. ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) Roles: Use ARIA roles and properties when HTML semantics alone are not sufficient to convey the role or state of a UI component. However, use native HTML elements when possible as they come with built-in accessibility features. Dynamic Content Updates: When content updates dynamically (without a page reload), use ARIA live regions to alert screen reader users of the changes.

Accessible Forms and Error Handling: Ensure that errors are clearly communicated to the user and can be navigated to and corrected easily. Use descriptive error messages and link errors to their respective form inputs. Provide Alternatives for CAPTCHAs: CAPTCHAs can be a barrier for many users, including those with visual impairments. Consider alternative verification methods or provide an accessible version of the CAPTCHA.

Familiarize with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and strive to meet at least the minimum standards. WCAG provides a comprehensive set of guidelines for creating accessible web content.

Crafting accessible web applications with Python's backend involves key practices. Follow Python Enhancement Proposals (PEPs) for guidelines, use built-in modules, and manage dependencies with tools like pip and virtualenv. Choose Django or Flask frameworks for web apps and employ pytest or unittest for testing. Document dependencies in requirements.txt, implement accessibility features with Django or Flask extensions, and measure code coverage using tools like coverage or pytest-cov. These practices ensure that your Python-based web applications are not only powerful but also accessible to a wider audience.

Accessibility in web application is usually a last priority and sometimes tend to miss it too. A few countries had mandated it like US, however just WCAG level standards is not enough. While it sets the base and ensures its accessible to wide range of people, there are more types of users to consider as well. For example, a non tech savvy or illiterate person trying to access needs more visual and audio in language they understand. It's important to understand the user personas well and ensure to have an accessibility standard customized for your needs set. This must be key which goes in NFRs (Non-functional requirements)

Accessibility can be achieved by following these things when writing code -Add proper alt text to images -Add labels to form fields -Group related form fields together. -use language attribute -Provide sufficient color contrast. -Use ARIA landmarks etc

Responsive Design: Ensure your web application is usable on a wide range of devices, including mobile phones and tablets, which are often used by people with disabilities. Testing with Real Users: While automated tools can help catch many accessibility issues, testing with real users with disabilities can uncover challenges that those tools cannot.Use of Automated Accessibility Testing Tools: Tools like Axe, Lighthouse, and Wave can help identify accessibility issues in your web applications.Continuous Education: Accessibility standards and technologies evolve. Stay updated on the latest best practices and guidelines like WCAG 2.1 and future versions.

1. In the Design phase of web application, rely on good design system that has consistent guidelines for Accessibility 2. Communicate clearly the accessibility guidelines to the developer who is going to implement components 3. Have a good automation for UI using tools like TestIm in place to ensure Accessibility 4. Follow Accessibility in entire web application SDLC phases

Considering using plug-ins like AXE that help to find areas of your design that may not be visible or accessible enough for all users. I dont know about you but i want everyone to be enjoy the creations i make.