Mastering ARIA: Writing Clearer Code for Enhanced Web Accessibility

The Internet should be accessible to all users, including those with visual, auditory, cognitive, or motor impairments. This includes following ARIA web accessibility principles that keep digital content usable for everyone.

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) provide a framework to guide developers and designers in creating digital content that is perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust. Following these guidelines helps remove barriers and makes websites, applications, and digital resources inclusive for users with diverse abilities. Many teams combine WCAG with ARIA accessibility guidelines to strengthen accessibility across all components

ARIA provides an important finishing layer. It gives developers the means to make dynamic content completely accessible to assistive technologies. This is why ARIA in accessibility plays such an important role in modern development.

What Is ARIA Accessibility?

Accessible Rich Internet Applications, or ARIA, are attributes that can be included in HTML elements to make it easier for screen readers to understand the purpose and behavior of the elements. Adding ARIA WCAG practices at this stage helps reinforce the required level of clarity and supports website accessibility.

ARIA accessibility becomes essential when dealing with interactive elements, such as sliders, dropdown menus, and modals, that automated tools cannot reliably identify. Developers use ARIA attributes to make websites and apps easier to navigate and interact with for all. These ARIA best practices also support smoother interaction for assistive technologies.

This method not only solves the pain points of companies that must comply with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and legislation like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), but it also enables more people to become part of the global web. Strong ARIA web accessibility coverage helps strengthen this compliance.

ARIA Accessibility Examples

Below are several situations where ARIA accessibility is typically implemented. ARIA helps assistive technologies interpret interactive elements that standard HTML alone cannot clearly describe. These attributes bridge the gap between visual design and technical structure, making interfaces more predictable for users with disabilities. They also strengthen website accessibility by giving screen readers the context they need to guide users through complex layouts.

Sections of the Page

Using aria-label on containers, such as “div”, to group content improves navigation on complex layouts. This also aligns with ARIA accessibility guidelines for grouping content.

Input Forms

Use visual labels along with aria-label and matching id/for attributes to clearly specify the purpose of each input field, checkbox, or radio button. These steps also support ARIA in accessibility by creating cleaner relationships between text and controls and help maintain accessible content across forms.

Linked Pictures

When a picture acts as a link, add an aria-label to describe its destination, like “<a href=”…”><img src=”…” alt=”” aria-label=”Contact page link”/></a>”. This helps screen readers give users clear context about where the link leads. Such examples often appear in ARIA best practices documentation.

ARIA Labels Best Practices

ARIA labels play a major role in making interactive elements understandable to assistive technologies. They help communicate names, roles, and descriptions that are not always visible on the screen, making navigation clearer for users who rely on screen readers. Understanding how each type of label works ensures that your structure follows ARIA accessibility guidelines and supports consistent behavior across different devices and browsers.

For effective ARIA accessibility implementation, it is essential to understand ARIA labels, which provide explicit, human-readable names for elements.

Aria-label

In the absence of visible text or when the text is not descriptive enough, the aria-label property provides the element with a definitive and readable name for accessibility. For instance, if an icon, such as an SVG or XML graphic, is the only thing displayed on a button, you can make its purpose known to users of screen readers by labeling it with aria-label=”Search”. This step reflects ARIA web accessibility guidelines.

Aria-labelledby

The attribute aria-labelledby behaves differently from aria-label, as it depends on some other element to give the accessible name. This ARIA accessibility method is highly effective when the name is not included in the element itself, but rather exists elsewhere on the website.

A modal dialog is a classic case for it: the dialog having role=”dialog” is controlled by the aria-labelledby attribute pointing to the id of its main heading. The dialog will be read aloud by the screen reader, and the heading will be the dialog’s label.

Aria-describedby

The aria-describedby attribute helps connect an element with one or multiple IDs that provide detailed information about the purpose or content of the element. It gives more complex content than aria-label, which provides a brief label in a straightforward text.

The second one turns more critical, particularly at times when a description is not always displayed (e.g., in the case of information shown by clicking a “more information” icon). In such instances, sighted users can request the information at will, while assistive technologies receive the information immediately.

Here are some best practices to consider when using labels to optimize ARIA accessibility:

• Choose alternatives when possible: In case of hidden text, for example, icon button labels, it is better to use screen reader-only content instead of aria-label. This way, the labels will be accessible through machine translation tools too, which might not be able to comprehend aria-label.
• Reference visible text: Aria-labelledby and aria-describedby that point to the visible page text should be preferred. It not only helps users of assistive technologies but also enables all users to gain access to critical information.
• Reserve for interactive elements: Apply aria-label or aria-labelledby only in cases where the interactive elements need to be given a more explicit accessible name. Non-interactive elements do not typically require these attributes.

Writing ARIA Code According to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 

The implementation of ARIA accessibility practices in the coding process results in a better web experience for users due to the higher level of perceivability, understandability, operability, and robustness of the content and interfaces.

This has a major influence on users who depend on assistive technologies to get a more convenient experience. By using ARIA, you conform to the fundamental tenets of WCAG.

Define Relationships

Establishing relationships enables you to provide users with an understanding of how the various components of an interface are interconnected (e.g., matching a form field with its visible label).

The connections should be described programmatically to avoid losing meaning, according to WCAG 2.2, Level A, Success Criterion (SC) 1.3. 1: “Info and Relationships.” Utilizing aria-labelledby and aria-controls allows assistive technologies to interpret elements more systematically. This supports more transparent and more accessible communication.

Leverage Landmarks 

Landmarks not only guide users through the page but also show them its main parts and help them comprehend the layout. This is in accordance with the WCAG 2.2, Level A, SC 2.4. 1: “Bypass Blocks” rule, which enables users to skip content that has been repeated frequently.

The simple and clear layout of the page is created when ARIA roles are coded, for instance, “<header role=”banner”>, <nav role=”navigation”>, and <main role=”main”>”. Accessibility is thereby improved because the content is made easier for everyone to understand and navigate.

Meeting ARIA Accessibility Standards in Real Projects

If you incorporate ARIA accessibility standards in your entire design and development process, your projects will be accessible to everyone.

Using the right ARIA roles, such as role=”tab” and role=”slider”, is highly recommended when developing interactive components, including tabs, sliders, and modals. In addition, use attributes like aria-selected or aria-expanded to manage their states.

For complex tables to be more accessible, apply the roles of rowgroup, row, and cell, and connect the headings and descriptions by means of aria-labelledby and aria-describedby.

This modification optimizes smooth interface navigation and facilitates efficient and accurate comprehension of the data.

ARIA Compliance and Continuous Improvement

The use of ARIA attributes provides essential context for accessibility through descriptions for the screen readers and other assistive devices that benefit blind or visually impaired users. However, genuine accessibility standards require ongoing monitoring and refinement of such features. Adding these attributes is just the beginning.

Conducting tests across multiple browsers, devices, and screen readers provides a means to validate that the attributes align with ARIA accessibility standards. In this case, JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, or TalkBack can be used to check if these labels indeed convey the roles of the elements properly.

The use of ARIA has become a core skill for developers who want to create an accessible and inclusive web. Through the use of ARIA attributes, it becomes possible to share the functions, relations, and conditions of the interactive elements with the users, more so with people with disabilities who depend on assistive devices.

This method not only complies with the WCAG guidelines but also makes complex content intuitive. As a result, it becomes accessible to all users. Following ARIA in accessibility strengthens this outcome and supports inclusive design.