Use native elements before ARIA, preserve a logical heading outline, and test the page with keyboard navigation and an accessibility tree.
Accessibility starts with semantic HTML. Use headings in order, buttons for actions, links for navigation, labels for form controls, lists for grouped items, and table markup for tabular data. Native elements already include keyboard and screen-reader behavior that custom div-based controls must recreate manually.
Alternative text should explain the purpose of an image in context. Decorative images can use empty alt text so screen readers skip them. Functional images need alt text that describes the action or destination. Do not start with “image of” because assistive technology already announces the role.
Forms need visible labels, programmatic association, clear instructions, field-level errors, and focus behavior that helps users recover. Keyboard users should be able to reach every interactive control in a logical order, see focus, and activate controls without a mouse.
ARIA can improve custom widgets, but it does not add behavior by itself. If you use role, aria-expanded, aria-controls, aria-describedby, or live regions, you must also implement keyboard interaction and state changes correctly. Prefer native details, dialog, button, select, and input elements when they fit.
Dynamic content needs announcements only when users would otherwise miss important changes. Use aria-live for status messages sparingly. Move focus intentionally after modal open, form failure, route change, or destructive action. Avoid trapping focus except in true modal dialogs, and provide an obvious close path.
Automated tools catch many issues but not all. Combine linting, browser accessibility audits, keyboard-only testing, screen-reader checks, color contrast review, zoom testing, and real-user feedback. Accessibility is part of component design and content writing, not a final checklist after development.
<section>
<h2>HTML Accessibility ARIA, alt text, Screen Readers</h2>
<p>Write meaningful, accessible content.</p>
</section><section>
<h2>HTML Accessibility ARIA alt text Screen Readers</h2>
<p>Use semantic structure so the content is readable and accessible.</p>
</section>The input, label, and error message are connected programmatically.
<label for="email">Email address</label>
<input
id="email"
name="email"
type="email"
autocomplete="email"
aria-describedby="email-error"
aria-invalid="true"
>
<p id="email-error">Enter a valid email address.</p>A real button exposes state and controls a visible region.
<button
type="button"
aria-expanded="false"
aria-controls="faq-answer"
>
What is semantic HTML?
</button>
<div id="faq-answer" hidden>
Semantic HTML uses elements that describe the meaning of the content.
</div>Use empty alt text for a decorative image that adds no information. Informative images need a concise alternative.
No. Start with native elements such as button, nav, and label; add ARIA only when HTML cannot express the required state or relationship.
Navigate it using only the keyboard, then inspect headings, labels, image alternatives, and visible focus.
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