Accessibility

Building Accessible Web Components

A comprehensive guide to creating web components that everyone can use, following WCAG guidelines and best practices.

8 min read
Building Accessible Web Components

Web accessibility isn’t just a nice-to-have feature—it’s a fundamental requirement for creating inclusive digital experiences. In this guide, we’ll explore how to build web components that work for everyone, regardless of their abilities.

Understanding Web Accessibility

Accessibility (often abbreviated as a11y) means ensuring that your website or application can be used by people with disabilities. This includes users who:

  • Navigate using keyboard only
  • Use screen readers
  • Have visual impairments
  • Experience motor difficulties
  • Have cognitive or learning disabilities

WCAG Guidelines

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) provide the standard for web accessibility. They’re organized around four principles, often called POUR:

Perceivable

Information and user interface components must be presentable to users in ways they can perceive. This means providing text alternatives for images, captions for videos, and ensuring sufficient color contrast.

Operable

User interface components and navigation must be operable. All functionality should be available from a keyboard, and users should have enough time to read and use content.

Understandable

Information and the operation of the user interface must be understandable. Use clear language, provide instructions, and help users avoid and correct mistakes.

Robust

Content must be robust enough to be interpreted reliably by a wide variety of user agents, including assistive technologies.

Practical Implementation

Let’s look at some practical ways to implement accessibility in your components:

1. Semantic HTML

Use the right HTML element for the job. Semantic HTML provides meaning and structure that assistive technologies can understand:

<!-- Good: Using semantic button -->
<button onclick="doSomething()">Click me</button>

<!-- Bad: Using div as button -->
<div onclick="doSomething()">Click me</div>

2. ARIA Labels

When semantic HTML isn’t enough, use ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) attributes to provide additional context:

<button aria-label="Close dialog">
  <svg>...</svg>
</button>

3. Keyboard Navigation

Ensure all interactive elements can be accessed and operated using only a keyboard. Test your site by navigating with Tab, Enter, and arrow keys.

4. Color Contrast

Maintain a minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text. Use tools like the WebAIM contrast checker to verify your color choices.

Testing for Accessibility

Regular testing is crucial for maintaining accessibility. Here are some helpful tools:

  • axe DevTools - Browser extension for automated testing
  • NVDA or JAWS - Screen readers for testing with assistive technology
  • Lighthouse - Built into Chrome DevTools
  • WAVE - Web accessibility evaluation tool

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even well-intentioned developers make accessibility mistakes. Here are some common pitfalls:

  1. Missing alt text on images
  2. Poor color contrast
  3. Keyboard traps (focus gets stuck)
  4. Missing form labels
  5. Auto-playing audio or video
  6. Using color alone to convey information

Conclusion

Building accessible web components isn’t difficult—it just requires awareness and intention. By following WCAG guidelines, using semantic HTML, and testing with real users and assistive technologies, you can create experiences that work for everyone.

Remember: accessibility benefits all users, not just those with disabilities. Clear navigation, good contrast, and logical structure make websites easier for everyone to use.

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