Web Accessibility

Essential Techniques for an Inclusive Website

Welcome to a comprehensive guide on web accessibility, designed to ensure inclusivity right from the start. In this article, we will delve into the significance of keyboard accessibility and provide you with advanced techniques to implement it using cutting-edge HTML and CSS technologies.

What is Keyboard Accessibility?

Keyboard accessibility refers to the practice of enabling users to navigate websites efficiently and seamlessly using only their keyboard. While most modern web interfaces prioritize mouse cursors and touch interaction, neglecting keyboard navigation can create barriers for individuals who rely on keyboards as their primary means of accessing websites.

Key Beneficiaries of Keyboard Accessibility:

Few examples of code snippets showcasing keyboard accessibility techniques using the latest web technologies in 2023:

1. Example of Prominent : focus Styles:

2. Example of Non-Color Designators for Links:

3. Example of Leveraging Native Control Elements:

4. Example of Incorporating a "Skip to Main Content" Link:

Please note that these examples demonstrate the concepts mentioned in the previous response and can be adapted to fit your specific website's design and requirements.

Let's explore the main target groups that benefit from keyboard accessibility:

1. Users with motor disabilities: Those facing challenges in using a mouse, touch devices, or accurately clicking on small elements.
2. Blind or visually impaired users: Individuals who prefer navigating websites using specialized Braille keyboards.
3. Amputees or individuals with congenital amputation: People who utilize specialized hardware replicating keyboard functionality due to the absence of limbs, specifically hands.
4. Users without access to a functioning mouse or touchpad.

An example of how you can conduct keyboard accessibility testing

In this example, we have a simple webpage with various interactive elements such as a button, a link, an input field, a select dropdown, and a textarea. To conduct keyboard accessibility testing, follow these steps:

1. Save the above code in an HTML file, e.g., "keyboard-testing.html".
2. Open the HTML file in a web browser.
3. Use the Tab key to navigate through the interactive elements on the page.
4. Observe how each element receives focus, indicated by the focus styles applied in the CSS.
5. Test the interactive elements by interacting with them using only the keyboard. For example, press Enter on the button, select options in the dropdown using the arrow keys, and type text in the input field and textarea.
6. Ensure that all interactive elements are easily accessible and operable using the keyboard alone.
7. Make note of any issues or difficulties encountered during the testing process.
8. Revise your code and design as needed to address any identified accessibility issues.

By conducting keyboard accessibility testing, you can ensure that your website can be fully navigated and utilized by keyboard-only users, providing an inclusive experience for all visitors.

Conduct Keyboard Accessibility Testing

In this example, we have a simple webpage with various interactive elements such as a button, a link, an input field, a select dropdown, and a textarea. To conduct keyboard accessibility testing, follow these steps:

1. Save the above code in an HTML file, e.g., "keyboard-testing.html".
2. Open the HTML file in a web browser.
3. Press the Tab key to navigate through the interactive elements on the page.
4. As you navigate, the :focus styles will be applied to the focused element, indicating that it has received focus.
5. Open the browser's developer console (e.g., using the F12 key) to view the logged information.
6. Each time you press the Tab key, the currently focused element will be logged into the console.
7. Use this information to verify that the focus is moving correctly through the interactive elements.
8. Test the interactive elements by interacting with them using only the keyboard. For example, press Enter on the button, select options in the dropdown using the arrow keys, and type text in the input field and textarea.
9. Ensure that all interactive elements are easily accessible and operable using the keyboard alone.
10. Make note of any issues or difficulties encountered during the testing process.
11. Revise your code and design as needed to address any identified accessibility issues.

By conducting keyboard accessibility testing, you can ensure that your website can be fully navigated and utilized by keyboard-only users, providing an inclusive experience for all visitors.

The foremost objective of keyboard accessibility is to ensure that every interactive element, such as links and form controls, can be accessed using the Tab key.

To evaluate your website's keyboard accessibility, simply press the Tab key and navigate from the top to the bottom of the page, highlighting active elements along the way. You should also test the reverse direction using the Shift + Tab keyboard shortcut.

Design Prominent :focus Styles

Utilize the CSS :focus pseudo-class, triggered by user interactions like clicks, taps, or Tab key selections, to provide noticeable styles for focused elements. By default, browsers apply their own :focus styles, often a black dotted outline or a blurred glow.

However, it is crucial to avoid the common mistake of removing these default styles altogether. Instead, customize the :focus styles to match your website's design while ensuring they are easily distinguishable, not solely relying on colors.

Employ Non-Color Designators for Links

To enhance keyboard accessibility, avoid relying solely on color distinctions for hyperlinks. While this principle is primarily associated with visual accessibility, it also holds importance for keyboard-only users.

Links should be readily visible to allow quick scanning and navigation. While default browser styling typically underlines hyperlinks in blue, many designers opt to remove the underline and solely use colors to indicate links.

In such cases, substitute the underline with alternative non-color designators like borders, icons, or outlines that align with your website's design.

It's worth noting that the title attribute, which becomes visible upon hovering over a link, should not contain vital information since keyboard-only users do not have access to hover events.

Additionally, WCAG 2.0 advises caution in using the title attribute due to accessibility concerns. Therefore, ensure that crucial information is not solely placed within the title attribute. Instead, use it to provide repetition of important information or secondary details.

Leverage Native Control Elements

When creating forms, it is essential to prioritize keyboard accessibility. Keyboard-only users should be able to fill in forms, press buttons, use range sliders, select options, and operate controls seamlessly.

The best approach is to utilize native control elements whenever possible since they inherently possess built-in keyboard accessibility features.

Native control elements encompass <button>, <input>, <textarea>, <select>, and <option>. For instance, a keyboard-accessible range slider can be created using the following HTML code:

<input type="range" min="0" max="10">

If, for some reason, you need to use a non-focusable HTML tag for an interactive element, you can make it focusable using the tabindex="0" attribute. However, native control elements still outperform non-native ones in terms of keyboard accessibility.

Non-native buttons require additional event handlers for proper keyboard processing, leading to increased complexity. Hence, it is recommended to always utilize native control elements, unless there are specific justifications for not doing so.

Incorporate a "Skip to Main Content" Link

Including a "Skip to main content" or "Skip navigation" link significantly aids keyboard-only users. These users often prefer to bypass repetitive navigation links and directly access the main content.

Without a skip navigation link, they would need to navigate through the same set of links each time they visit a new page, which can be tedious. To implement a functional skip navigation link, establish a connection between the link and the main content using the id and href HTML attributes. Here's an example:

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

<nav>Navigation</nav>

<main id="main" tabindex="-1">Main content</main>

To ensure compatibility across various browsers, it is crucial to add the tabindex="-1" attribute to the container of the main content. This attribute modifies the default navigation order, making the container focusable. Some browsers, including Chrome and IE, require the presence of tabindex="-1" on the skip navigation link's target.

For a seamless user experience, use CSS to display the skip navigation link only to keyboard users. Initially, hide the link from regular users by positioning it outside the viewport.

Then, reveal it specifically for keyboard users by defining separate styles for the focus state, triggered when the user presses the Tab key.

Conclusion:

By following these advanced keyboard accessibility techniques, you can ensure that your website accommodates users who rely on keyboards as their primary means of navigation.

Promoting inclusivity through accessible design not only expands your audience but also aligns with the evolving standards of web development in 2023.