Overview
Digital accessibility ensures that websites, documents, videos, applications, and other digital content can be used by people with a wide range of abilities and disabilities.
Accessible content benefits everyone. Clear organization, readable content, meaningful descriptions, captions, and structured information improve the experience for people using assistive technologies, mobile devices, varying internet connections, and different learning styles.
Accessibility is most effective when it is built into content from the beginning rather than added later.
Core Principles
Most accessibility best practices can be grouped into four principles. Digital content should be:
- Perceivable: Information must be presented in ways people can perceive, whether visually, audibly, or through assistive technology.
- Operable: Users must be able to navigate and interact with content using a variety of input methods, including keyboards and assistive devices.
- Understandable: Content and navigation should be clear, predictable, and easy to understand.
- Robust: Content should work reliably across browsers, devices, and assistive technologies.
These principles form the foundation of modern web accessibility guidance. To learn more about accessibility concepts and principles, visit the W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) Introduction to Accessibility.
The Essentials Everyone Should Know
Use Clear Language
Write for your audience using clear, direct language.
Examples:
- Prefer common words over jargon when possible.
- Keep sentences concise.
- Explain acronyms on first use.
- Organize content logically.
Clear language improves accessibility for everyone, including users with cognitive disabilities and those who are unfamiliar with a topic.
Use Headings to Organize Content
Headings help users understand content structure and navigate efficiently.
Good practices include:
- Using headings in hierarchical order.
- Breaking content into manageable sections.
- Keeping heading text descriptive.
Headings are important for screen reader users and anyone scanning content quickly.
Provide Meaningful Link Text
Links should clearly describe their destination or purpose.
Preferred:
- "Download the Accessibility Self-Audit Checklist"
- "Register for Accessibility Training"
Avoid:
- "Click here"
- "Read more"
Descriptive links help all users understand where a link leads.
Provide Alternative Text for Images
Images that convey information should include alternative text (alt text) that communicates the image's purpose or meaning.
Alternative text should:
- Describe important information.
- Be concise.
- Consider the context in which the image appears.
Decorative images generally do not require descriptive alt text.
Learn more on Images & Graphics.
Ensure Sufficient Color Contrast
Color should not be the only method used to communicate information.
Good practices include:
- Maintaining sufficient contrast between text and background colors.
- Using labels or symbols in addition to color.
- Avoiding low-contrast color combinations.
Users with low vision or color vision deficiencies may otherwise miss important information.
Learn more on Color & Visual Design.
Use Accessible Tables
Tables should present data, not control layout.
Good practices include:
- Identifying row and column headers when appropriate.
- Keeping tables simple whenever possible.
- Avoiding merged cells when practical.
- Including descriptive titles or captions when useful.
Caption Video Content
Videos should include captions so users can access spoken information.
Depending on the content, additional accommodations may include:
- Transcripts
- Audio descriptions
- Accessible media players
Learn more on Video & Multimedia.
Create Accessible Documents
Documents should be structured in ways that assistive technologies can interpret.
Examples include:
- Using headings and styles.
- Providing alt text for images.
- Creating accessible tables.
- Using meaningful link text.
- Exporting properly structured PDFs.
Learn more on Documents & PDFs.
Accessibility Applies to Many Types of Content
Accessibility requirements apply across a wide range of digital content, including:
- Websites
- Documents and PDFs
- Images and graphics
- Videos and recorded presentations
- Email communications
- Social media content
- Online forms
- Training materials
- Software and digital tools
If you create, publish, or maintain digital content, accessibility is part of your work.
Start Small and Improve Continuously
You do not need to become an accessibility expert overnight.
Focus on incorporating accessibility into your normal workflows:
- Use headings correctly.
- Write clearly.
- Add alternative text to images.
- Use descriptive links.
- Caption videos.
- Review content before publishing.
Small, consistent improvements can have a significant impact on the accessibility and usability of digital content.