*This article is an English translation of a Japanese article.
Web accessibility is essential to ensure that all users can use websites without issues. Fortunately, there are several easy ways to implement basic accessibility features, even without specialized knowledge. This article introduces accessible web features that anyone can set up and provides clear steps for implementation.
1. Set Alternative Text for Images
Add alt text to any images on your webpage. Alt text describes the content of an image for visually impaired users, which a screen reader can read aloud.
How to Set It Up
When adding an image in HTML, use the alt attribute like this:
<img src="example.jpg" alt="A sunflower blooming under a blue sky">
Tip: Briefly describe the content of the image, providing specific information about what the image conveys.
2. Enable Keyboard Navigation
Webpages should be navigable using just the keyboard. This is especially important for forms and menu interactions.
How to Set It Up
HTML buttons and links are usually keyboard-navigable by default, but custom elements can be enabled with the tabindex attribute:
<a href="#" tabindex="0">Click this link</a>
Tip: Make sure all essential functions are keyboard-accessible and check that the tab key moves through elements in the correct order.
3. Adjust Color Contrast
To accommodate users with color vision deficiencies, set an appropriate contrast between text and background colors. A contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 is recommended.
How to Set It Up When defining colors in CSS, use a contrast checker tool to ensure suitable contrast. For example:
body {
color: #000000; /* Black text */
background-color: #ffffff; /* White background */
}
Tip: Verify color combinations across your website to ensure high visibility and readability.
4. Add Labels to Forms
To make form fields clear for screen reader users, add labels for each field.
How to Set It Up
Use the <label> tag to associate labels with form fields as shown below:
<label for="username">Username:</label>
<input type="text" id="username" name="username">
**Tip**: Use the `for` and `id` attributes to correctly link labels to their corresponding fields.
5. Add Captions to Videos
For videos, provide captions or subtitles for users with hearing impairments or those who can’t play audio.
How to Set It Up
If using platforms like YouTube, add captions in the video management panel. For self-hosted videos, use the <track> element for subtitles:
<video controls>
<source src="movie.mp4" type="video/mp4">
<track src="subtitles.vtt" kind="subtitles" srclang="ja" label="Japanese subtitles">
</video>
**Tip**: Captions should accurately convey audio content, including sound effects and speaker identification when relevant.
6. Add Descriptive Link Text
Make it clear where a link will lead by using descriptive text. Avoid vague labels like “Click here,” which can be unclear.
How to Set It Up
Add descriptive information directly in the link text to clarify its destination:
<a href="example.com">Learn more about accessibility guidelines here</a>
**Tip**: Link text alone should indicate the content or destination of the link.
Conclusion
Implementing web accessibility features doesn’t require special expertise; basic HTML and CSS knowledge is enough to get started. By adding alt text, supporting keyboard navigation, setting proper color contrast, adding labels, providing captions, and using descriptive link text, you can make a website more accessible for a wider range of users.
Start with these simple steps to create a more user-friendly web experience for everyone!
We have released the UUU Web Accessibility Widget Tool, designed to make web accessibility easy to implement. This tool helps improve the accessibility of websites quickly and efficiently, even without specialized knowledge.
If you’re interested in enhancing your website’s accessibility, please check out the details. We are here to support you in making your website more user-friendly and accessible to a wider audience.