How do you ensure your web projects are accessible and user-friendly?

Semantic HTML refers to the practice of using HTML tags that convey the meaning and structure of the content they enclose. This approach helps assistive technologies and search engines understand the purpose and organization of the content, improving accessibility and SEO while promoting a clear and meaningful structure for all users.

It's a fundamental best practice in web development. Semantic HTML not only enhances accessibility and SEO but also promotes cleaner and more maintainable code. By correctly structuring content with elements like headings, paragraphs, lists, and tables, you create a solid foundation for styling and scripting. This approach fosters a more efficient and consistent use of CSS and JavaScript, reducing the need for extraneous classes or IDs. Overall, semantic HTML is a cornerstone of web development that should be embraced for better code quality and user experience.

Incorporate automated accessibility checks as part of the development/testing process. Their tests won't cover all the WCAG principles, but they will help analyze many WCAG principles automatically and they are useful tools to identify –and suggest solutions for– common errors like low color contrast, missing alternative text, missing labels in form controls, etc. Some tools to consider: - WebAIM Wave: https://wave.webaim.org/ - aXe Dev Tools: https://www.deque.com/axe-devtools-accessibility-testing/ - Accessibility Insights for Web: https://accessibilityinsights.io/

It can be overwhelming looking at all the items in the WCAG docs. I recently found this concise accessibility checklist! https://www.magentaa11y.com/web/

I have experienced that at times the browser's mobile view is not as accurate as the mobile device itself so while it's a lot of help to check there first, a final pass in mobile should be done. As for browsers itself, do check Safari, it's the second most used browser in the world after Chrome and can't be ignored especially because Chrome, Firefox, Edge work close but Safari can act very different.

Employ techniques like media queries, breakpoints, and responsive design principles to ensure your projects adapt gracefully to various screen sizes and orientations. Embrace features like flexbox and grid for flexible layout management. Utilize the viewport meta tag to control how content is displayed on different devices. Moreover, consider diverse input methods such as touchscreens, keyboards, and mice. Implement appropriate feedback and interaction mechanisms to guarantee a seamless user experience across all devices and browsers. Rigorous testing not only enhances user-friendliness but also broadens your web project's reach and usability.

Also need to test using actual screen readers. Jaws or another professional screen reader if possible but from my experience the built in ones on Mac and windows suffice. I actually found out chrome dev tools have built in vision impairment emulators, see how to set it up here: https://www.google.com/amp/s/blog.testproject.io/2022/07/13/simulating-vision-problems-in-chrome/%3famp=1

Use aria-label or aria-labelledby to add a short and descriptive label to regions of the same type. That way they will be easier to find and identify what they are for. For example, if your web page has multiple navigations add an <nav aria-label="Main navigation"> for the main navigation, <nav aria-label="breadcrumbs"> for page breadcrumbs, etc.

One of the biggest security loophole people do is returning ALL the data in APIs, I can often see a simple user list return as example to be returning their email, phone, connections, payment and all details because the developers didn't query what they wanted or didn't trim to FE limited data.

As a developer, never underestimate the power of user feedback. It's a valuable tool for enhancing web projects. Listen to users, implement their input, and keep your projects relevant and user-centric.

These tools are sort of buried at the end of the article, but they are invaluable in helping you make accessible websites. Not only will they evaluate your web page for many (but not all!) common accessibility issues, but they will link to the WCAG website and/or provide suggestions for how to repair your code.

In the dynamic field of web development, staying up-to-date with the latest technologies and trends is crucial. Continuous learning and exploration of new tools and frameworks can keep your skills sharp and your projects innovative. Additionally, collaborating with peers and sharing knowledge can lead to valuable insights and growth within the industry. Don't hesitate to engage in online communities, attend tech meetups, and participate in hackathons to expand your horizons and keep your passion for tech-enabled startup ideas alive.