How to Use ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) for Better Accessibility

Web accessibility is no longer an optional feature; it’s a necessity that ensures every individual, regardless of physical or cognitive abilities, can fully engage with your website. For businesses and developers who want to make their websites more inclusive, ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) is a crucial tool to understand. ARIA is a set of attributes added to HTML to improve the accessibility of web applications, particularly for those using screen readers or other assistive technologies. In this article, we will dive into what ARIA is, how it works, and how to implement it effectively for better accessibility.

What is ARIA?

ARIA, short for Accessible Rich Internet Applications, is a specification developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) to enhance the accessibility of dynamic content and advanced user interfaces. Websites today are often filled with interactive elements like sliders, modals, and dropdowns that rely heavily on JavaScript for interactivity. These elements can sometimes be difficult for assistive technologies to interpret correctly.

ARIA attributes offer a way to bridge the gap by providing additional information about these dynamic elements. Essentially, ARIA acts as a layer of communication between the interactive parts of a web page and assistive technologies, ensuring that these elements are correctly identified and navigated by users with disabilities.

Key ARIA Roles, States, and Properties

ARIA works primarily by assigning roles, states, and properties to various elements within your HTML. Understanding these concepts is crucial to properly implementing ARIA in your web design.

1. Roles: ARIA roles define what type of element the user is interacting with. For example, a ‘button’ role tells a screen reader that a specific element behaves like a button, even if it’s technically a div in HTML. This is especially useful for custom UI components that don’t follow traditional HTML markup.Example: <div role="button" aria-pressed="false">Click Me</div>
2. States: ARIA states describe the current condition of an element. For instance, the aria-expanded state can indicate whether a collapsible element is currently open or closed.Example: <button aria-expanded="false">Show More</button>
3. Properties: ARIA properties provide additional descriptive information about an element. The aria-label property, for example, allows you to give a meaningful name to an element that might not have visible text.Example: <img src="image.jpg" aria-label="Company Logo">

When to Use ARIA

While ARIA is a powerful tool, it’s important to understand when to use it. The general rule is that ARIA should only be used when native HTML elements or attributes cannot provide the necessary accessibility support. Native HTML elements like <button>, <input>, and <form> are inherently accessible, and screen readers can usually interpret them correctly. Overusing ARIA or applying it incorrectly can lead to confusing or broken experiences for users relying on assistive technologies.

Here are some scenarios where ARIA can be particularly useful:

• Custom Widgets: Many modern web applications use custom elements like div or span to create buttons, sliders, or modals. In such cases, ARIA roles can be applied to define the purpose of these elements to assistive technologies.
• Dynamic Content Updates: If your page updates content dynamically (via AJAX or JavaScript), ARIA can help notify users when something changes without requiring them to manually look for the update.
• Complex Navigation: In situations where a site uses custom navigation patterns or advanced menus, ARIA roles and states can clarify the structure for screen readers.

Best Practices for ARIA Implementation

To effectively use ARIA, you must follow best practices that will ensure the accessibility improvements actually work as intended. Below are some key guidelines:

1. Use Native HTML First: Whenever possible, stick to standard HTML elements. Many developers make the mistake of adding ARIA attributes to elements like native <button> or <input> tags, which are already accessible by default. In such cases, the ARIA attributes add unnecessary complexity and may confuse assistive technologies.
2. Test with Screen Readers: No matter how well you think you’ve implemented ARIA, it’s crucial to test your web applications with various screen readers like NVDA, JAWS, or VoiceOver. This will help ensure that the ARIA roles, states, and properties are being interpreted as expected.
3. Keep ARIA Updates Synchronized with UI: When applying ARIA states like aria-expanded or aria-pressed, make sure these attributes are updated in real time as the UI changes. For instance, if a button is meant to open a dropdown, and you use aria-expanded, the state should automatically switch from false to true when the dropdown opens.
4. Avoid Redundant Labels: Using both visible text and ARIA labels on the same element can lead to repetitive descriptions. Instead, only use aria-label on elements where no text is visible or if the visible text does not adequately describe the function of the element.
5. Don’t Overuse ARIA: ARIA should be used sparingly. Overapplying it can clutter the accessibility tree, the behind-the-scenes structure that assistive technologies rely on. Stick to adding ARIA attributes only where they are necessary to convey important information.

How ARIA Enhances User Experience

Using ARIA properly can significantly enhance the user experience for individuals with disabilities, allowing them to interact more effectively with modern web applications. It opens up a wide range of interactive elements that would otherwise be challenging or impossible to navigate with assistive technologies.

For example, ARIA can improve navigation for people using screen readers by helping them understand the structure of complex forms, modal dialogs, and dynamic content. ARIA also ensures that when a portion of the page changes dynamically—like a new comment being added or a list being updated—users are notified, preventing them from missing critical information.

Moreover, it improves the ability of keyboard-only users to navigate through the site, providing clear cues about focus states and interactive elements. When developers embrace ARIA, they make their websites and applications far more inclusive, ensuring that everyone can have an equitable digital experience.

Tools and Resources for ARIA Implementation

Developers can access several tools to assist with ARIA implementation and testing:

• Accessibility Developer Tools (Chrome Extension): This tool helps developers understand how ARIA roles, states, and properties are being applied and interpreted on a page.
• Axe Accessibility Testing Tool: This open-source tool integrates directly into developer workflows and identifies accessibility issues, including incorrect ARIA usage.
• WAVE Accessibility Tool: This browser extension provides visual feedback about the accessibility of your website, highlighting ARIA issues and offering suggestions for improvement.

Conclusion

ARIA offers a powerful way to enhance the accessibility of modern, interactive web applications. When used correctly, it bridges the gap between dynamic content and assistive technologies, allowing people with disabilities to have a smoother, more inclusive online experience. However, it’s essential to implement ARIA thoughtfully, following best practices and always prioritizing native HTML where possible. Through testing and careful application, ARIA can transform your website into an accessible, user-friendly space for all.