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Accessibility (a11y)

Accessibility (often shortened to "a11y") means building so that everyone can use your site — including people who are blind, have low vision, can't use a mouse, or are colour-blind. It's the right thing to do, it's often a legal requirement, and the same work usually improves usability and SEO for everyone.

The essentials​

  • Alt text on images. Describe what a meaningful image shows; use empty alt="" for purely decorative ones so screen readers skip them.
  • Labels on form fields. Every input needs a real <label> — a placeholder isn't one, it disappears the moment someone types.
  • Everything works with a keyboard. People who can't use a mouse Tab through links, buttons and menus, so those must all be reachable and operable.
  • Don't rely on colour alone. Pair a red/green state with text or an icon, so it still reads for colour-blind users.
  • Enough contrast. Text must stand out from its background (aim for the WCAG AA ratio).
  • Icons need names. An icon-only button needs a text name (aria-label) so a screen reader can announce what it does.

In UnysonPlus​

Interactive elements follow the established ARIA patterns — accordions, modals, tabs and menus ship keyboard support and the correct roles — and the image and icon options prompt you for the text that assistive tech needs.

Learn more: MDN: Accessibility · W3C: WAI tutorials