Top 10 Essential HTML Tags for Better Accessibility

 

10 HTML Tags for Better Accessibility




Introduction


Accessibility in web design refers to the practice of creating websites and web applications that can be used and understood by a wide range of people, including those with disabilities, using mobile devices, or those with slow network connections.

It aims to ensure that all users, regardless of their disabilities or situations, can access and interact with web content effectively.

Accessibility is expensive! Is it really?

To say accessibility is expensive or not to implement into your project you should know the case at what stage you are trying to implement accessibility. 

We can say Yes implementing accessibility to the project is expensive. If,

  • You are trying to add accessibility to an existing web page that has significant accessibility issues.
  • You have only started to consider accessibility in the late stages of a project.

If however, you consider accessibility from the start of a project, the cost of making most content accessible should be fairly minimal.

A great deal of web content can be made accessible just by making sure the correct Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) elements are used for the correct purpose at all times. This blog lists 10 HTML tags that have a vital role in webpage accessibility.

List of 10 HTML Tags for better accessibility 

  1. Nav Tag 
  2. Header Tag
  3. Main Tag   
  4. Footer Tag  
  5. Article Tag   
  6. Img Tag     
  7. Section Tag   
  8. Label Tag      
  9. Figure Tag   
  10. Figcaption Tag              





1. Nav Tag

The Nav HTML tag defines a set of navigation links on the web page. It represents a section of a web page that contains navigation links. Common examples of navigation sections are menus, tables of contents, and indexes.

Nav tag is a valuable tool for enhancing accessibility. It makes navigation to different pages easier for users including disabilities and screen readers. 

Here's how the Nav tag contributes to accessibility:

Semantic Structure: The Nav tag gives semantic structure for the web page.

Keyboard Navigation: Users who rely on keyboard navigation can benefit from the Nav element because it allows them to focus on and navigate through the navigation links more easily. This is crucial for users who cannot use a mouse.

Screen Reader Compatibility:   Screen readers can identify the Nav element and announce it to users, indicating that it contains navigation options. This helps users quickly locate and access the site's main navigation.

BZW: It's not necessary for all links to be contained in a Nav element. Nav is intended only for a major block of navigation links.





2. Header Tag 

The header tag is generally located at the top of the page and represents a container for introductory content or a set of navigational links. It typically contains some heading elements but also a logo, a search form, an author name, and other information that is considered the topmost or primary content on a webpage.

The Header tag plays a crucial role in web accessibility by providing structure and context to the content within a web page.


Header tag is used to improve accessibility By:

Semantic Structure: The Header tag is a semantic HTML element that indicates the beginning of a section of content that typically contains introductory or navigational elements for a page or a section. Using semantic tags like Header helps screen readers and other assistive technologies understand the purpose and structure of the content.

Page Title: The Header tag is often used to include the page title or website logo. This is essential for users who rely on screen readers, as it helps them quickly identify the page they are on.



3. Main Tag 

The Main HTML element represents the dominant content of the <body> of a document. The main content area consists of content that is directly related to or expands upon the central topic of a document, or the central functionality of an application. 
The content inside the Main tag should be unique to each document.
The main tag is a fundamental component of web page accessibility. It helps structure content, aids navigation, and ensures that web pages are usable and understandable by a wide range of users, regardless of their abilities or disabilities. 



4. Footer Tag

The Footer HTML element represents the footer of a document or section. A Footer typically contains information about the author of the section, copyright data, or links to related documents.

The footer tag is used to provide structural and semantic information to web documents. When used properly, it can enhance accessibility by helping screen readers and other assistive technologies understand the content and structure of a webpage. 



5. Article Tag   

An Article tag is an HTML tag used in web development to structure and mark up the content of a web page. The Article tag is part of the HTML5 specification and is used to define a complete or self-contained composition on a web page.

The Article element is typically used for content like blog posts, news articles, forum posts, or any other content that makes sense as a standalone unit within a web page.

Article tag helps search engines and other software understand the structure of the page and can improve accessibility.


6. Img Tag

An Img tag is an HTML element used to embed and display images on a web page. Img stands for "image" and is an essential part of web development for adding pictures, photos, icons, and other visual content to a website. 


The Img tag plays a crucial role in making web content accessible to all users, including those with disabilities. Ensuring that images are accessible is an essential part of web design and development to comply with accessibility standards, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). Here are some ways to use the Img tag for accessibility:


Provide an Alt Text (Alternative Text): The most critical aspect of making images accessible is to provide a concise and accurate description of the image content using the alt attribute. This text is read aloud by screen readers to provide context to users who cannot see the image.


If an image is purely decorative and doesn't convey any meaningful information, use an empty alt attribute to indicate this to screen readers. The screen reader then will not announce it to the user.


For complex images that cannot be adequately described in a short alt text, you can provide a longer description using the longdesc attribute or aria-described.


Images embedded in the web has to be displayed on different device adaptively, so avoid using fixed image sizes, as they may not work well on all devices. Use CSS to ensure that images are responsive and can adapt to different screen sizes and orientations. 



7. Section Tag

A Section tag is a semantic HTML element used to define a section or grouping of content within a web page. It is part of the HTML5 specification and is used to semantically structure the content of a web page to make it more meaningful for search engines.

Section tag plays a crucial role in improving accessibility by providing structure and meaning to the content. Using a Section tag ensures that screen reader users can navigate the website content more efficiently.



8.  Label Tag 

The Label tag is used to create a label for an HTML form element. It is typically used in conjunction with form elements like input fields, checkboxes, radio buttons, and text areas to provide a textual description or name for the form element. This label helps improve the accessibility and user experience of a web form by clarifying what each input field is for.

The Label tag in HTML is a crucial element for improving accessibility on web pages. It is used to create a label for an HTML form element. It is typically used in conjunction with form elements like input fields, checkboxes, radio buttons, and text areas to provide a textual description or name for the form element. 

The primary purpose of using the Label tag for accessibility is to make web forms more user-friendly and understandable, especially for individuals with disabilities who rely on screen readers or other assistive technologies to navigate the web.

Label tag enhances accessibility by:

Textual Labeling: The Label tag provides a text description for form elements, making it clear to users what each input field is for. This is particularly helpful for users with visual impairments who rely on screen readers. When a screen reader encounters a properly associated Label, it will announce the label's text when focusing on the corresponding input element.

Clickable Labels: When a Label is associated with an input element, clicking on the label will also focus or select the associated input element. This is especially beneficial for users who have difficulty with fine motor control or those using touch devices. It enlarges the clickable area, making it easier to interact with form fields.

Screen Reader Compatibility: Screen readers use the Label element to provide context and meaning to form fields. Without proper labeling, users relying on screen readers may struggle to understand the purpose of each input element.



9. Figure Tag

A Figure tag is an HTML element used in web development to represent and display images, diagrams, charts, or any other visual content within a web page. It is typically used in conjunction with the Figcaption element (will see this tag below) to provide a caption or description for the content being displayed.

The Figure tag is primarily used for semantic markup to represent self-contained content, typically accompanied by a caption or legend, and it plays a crucial role in enhancing accessibility for users with disabilities. 

Figure tags can be used to improve accessibility by:-

Grouping Images with Captions: One of the primary use cases for the Figure tag is to associate images with their captions. This is particularly important for users with visual impairments who rely on screen readers. 

Accessibility Attributes: You can enhance the accessibility of the Figure and its child elements by using attributes like Aria Labelledby and Aria Describedby. These attributes allow you to establish relationships between the figure, caption, and image, further improving the user experience for those using assistive technologies.




10. Figcaption Tag 

The Figcaption tag is an HTML element used in conjunction with the Figure element to provide accessible descriptions or captions for multimedia content, such as images, illustrations, diagrams, or any other content that is part of the document's main content.  It is a crucial HTML feature for enhancing the accessibility of web content. 

Figcaption tag is used for accessibility by:-

Providing Context: The Figcaption element allows you to provide context or descriptions for the content within the Figure. This is particularly important for users with visual impairments who rely on screen readers to understand the content.

Semantic Structure: By using the Figure and Figcaption elements, you provide a semantic structure to your content. Screen readers can recognize this structure and convey it to users, making the content more understandable.



Conclusion

To make the web page accessible make your HTML code as semantic as possible and by following the above best practices, you can make your web content more inclusive and accessible to individuals with disabilities, ensuring that everyone can access and understand the information you provide, even if they can't see the images.

There are more HTML tags and CSS attributes that can be used for better accessibility. I will prepare another blog for CSS attributes and additional HTML tags that positively impact web accessibility. 


If you are interested here are  10 HTML Tags for Search Engine Optimization (SEO)


Behailu Mesganaw

Software Developer

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