Website accessibility basics, in plain language.
An accessible website can be used by people with a wide range of abilities and in a wide range of situations. This guide explains what accessibility means, who it helps, the practical checks a business owner can make, and why a professional review is still needed before anyone claims a site is accessible.
- Accessibility is about making a site usable for as many people as possible, including those using screen readers, keyboards or small screens.
- Most basics are simple: clear text, good contrast, labelled forms, image descriptions and a layout that works without a mouse.
- These checks improve a site but do not prove it meets a standard. That needs a qualified review.
6 min readPublished By Domeq Solutions
What does website accessibility mean?
Website accessibility means designing and building a site so that people can use it whatever their abilities and whatever their situation. Some visitors are blind or have low vision. Some cannot use a mouse. Some are deaf, or have a condition that makes certain colours, motion or dense text hard to process. Others are simply on a bright screen outdoors or using one hand.
A widely used reference for the details is the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, known as WCAG, published by the World Wide Web Consortium. They set out ways to make content perceivable, operable, understandable and robust.
Accessibility is also good business. The practices that help one group tend to help everyone: clear headings, readable text and simple forms make a site easier for every visitor, and they help search engines read it too.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Legal requirements vary by country and by sector, so ask a qualified professional what applies to you.
What helps one visitor to use a site usually helps all of them.
What can a business owner check on a page?
You do not need special software for a first pass. These checks catch some of the most common problems, using only a browser and a keyboard.
Ten checks anyone can try.
- Use only the Tab key to move through the page: you can reach every link, button and form field, and you can see where you are
- Text is large enough to read, and the page still works when you zoom the browser to 200 percent
- Text stands out clearly from its background, including on buttons and over images
- Every meaningful image has a short description, and decorative images are marked so they are skipped
- Headings are in order, with one main heading, so the page makes sense when read as an outline
- Every form field has a visible label, and error messages say what went wrong and how to fix it
- Links say where they go, so that 'click here' is replaced by a descriptive phrase
- Nothing important is shown by colour alone, such as a red border with no message
- Videos have captions, and anything that moves can be paused
- The page works on a phone, with buttons large enough to tap
Passing these checks makes a site better to use. It does not mean the site meets WCAG or any law.
How much contrast does text need?
Low contrast is one of the most common faults. Light grey text on white, or text over a busy photograph, is hard for many people to read, and for everyone in bright light.
WCAG sets a minimum contrast between text and its background: a ratio of 4.5 to 1 for normal text and 3 to 1 for large text at its common level of conformance. Free contrast checkers show the ratio when you enter two colours, so your designer can test the palette before it is built.
Contrast, in plain terms.
| Aspect | Normal text | Large text |
|---|---|---|
| Commonly required ratio | 4.5 to 1 | 3 to 1 |
| What counts | Body copy, captions, labels and button text | Very large or large bold headings |
| Quick test | Squint at the page: can you still read it? | Check the ratio with a free contrast tool |
Check the current WCAG wording for the exact definitions of large text.
Why do forms and images need special care?
Forms are where a visitor becomes an enquiry, so a form that some people cannot complete is a lost customer. Each field needs a label that stays visible, errors must be explained next to the field, and the form must work with a keyboard alone.
Images need a short description, called alt text, so that people who use screen readers know what is there. Describe what the image shows and why it matters, and leave the description empty for purely decorative pictures, so that they are skipped.
Three accessibility myths.
Accessibility only matters for a small number of people.
Many people have a disability, a temporary injury or a difficult situation, and accessible design also improves the experience for everyone.
An accessibility overlay or plugin makes a site accessible.
No tool can fix a site's structure on its own. Real accessibility comes from how a site is designed, built and tested.
Accessible sites must look plain.
Good design and accessibility work together. Strong contrast, clear structure and readable type are part of good visual design.
How does it fit into a website project?
It is cheapest to build accessibly from the start. Retrofitting a finished site is slower, and some faults, such as a layout that depends on a mouse, are built into the design. When briefing a designer or developer, say that accessibility matters to you, and ask how they will check for it.
At Domeq, every website is fully responsive and tested across devices and browsers before launch, and the interface work in UI/UX Design aims for clear structure and readable design. Domeq does not claim that any site meets a standard, and its own accessibility statement says what has and has not been checked. Conformance needs testing by an accessibility professional, ideally with people who use assistive technology.
When should you bring in an expert?
Bring in a specialist when accessibility is a legal or contractual requirement, when the site serves the public or a regulated sector, or when you want a claim you can stand behind. A professional audit combines automated tools, manual testing and real assistive technology such as screen readers.
In the meantime, the checks above are worth doing. For a quick read of other basics, try the free website audit, and see the website design myths for more on designing for how people really use a site.
Questions, answered.
What is website accessibility?
It is the practice of designing and building a website so that people with a wide range of abilities, and in a wide range of situations, can use it. That includes people who use screen readers, keyboards, captions or magnification.
What is WCAG?
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, published by the World Wide Web Consortium. They are the most widely used reference for making web content perceivable, operable, understandable and robust.
How do I test whether my website can be used with a keyboard?
Use only the Tab key to move through the page. You should reach every link, button and form field, see where the focus is at every step, and be able to use each one without a mouse.
What is alt text and how long should it be?
Alt text is a short description of an image for people who cannot see it. A sentence or less is usually enough. Leave it empty for decorative images, so that screen readers skip them.
Does an accessibility plugin make my site accessible?
No. A plugin or overlay cannot repair a site's structure, labels or layout by itself. Accessibility comes from how the site is designed, built and tested.
Is my business legally required to have an accessible website?
It depends on the country, the sector and who you serve, and the rules change. Ask a qualified professional what applies to you. This guide is general information, not legal advice.
Can Domeq certify that my website is accessible?
No. Domeq builds responsive, tested websites and designs for clarity, but does not certify conformance with any standard. That needs an audit by an accessibility professional.
Keep reading.
More guides on the same topic, and on the ones around it.
- Seven Website Design Myths That Cost Businesses EnquiriesSeven website design myths that cost businesses enquiries, from 'make the logo bigger' to 'people don't scroll', with what to do instead.UI/UX Design
- Website Navigation Best Practices: Design a Menu That WorksWebsite navigation best practices: list your pages, group them by what visitors want, name them plainly, keep the menu short and test it on a phone.UI/UX Design
- What Affects the Cost of a Website in India?What decides the cost of a website in India? Seven price factors, how to compare quotes fairly, and the costs that arrive after the quote.Website Design & Development
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