Designing Accessible Web Content

This article provides best practices for creating accessible web content, including guidance on layout structure, readable text, and descriptive alt text for images. It also covers accessible multimedia, tables, and links to ensure inclusive digital experiences for all users.

Use Clear and Consistent Layouts

• Logical structure: Organize your content in a clear, predictable layout with a consistent structure across pages. Ensure the reading order flows logically from headings to paragraphs and interactive elements.
• Use appropriate headings: Use HTML heading tags (H1, H2, H3) to structure content, making it easier for screen readers to navigate. Avoid skipping heading levels to maintain a clear hierarchy.

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Ensure Text is Readable

• Readable fonts: Choose legible fonts with a minimum size of 16px. Avoid decorative fonts for body text.
• High contrast: Ensure sufficient contrast between text and background (at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text). This helps users with visual impairments or color blindness.
• Avoid using text within images: Using text inside images is not considered best practice, as screen readers cannot interpret it. If images must include text, ensure the same information is provided as real text in the content so all users can access it.

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Provide Descriptive Alt Text for Images

• Add alt text: Include concise, descriptive alt text for all images that convey their meaning and purpose. For example, instead of "image001.jpg," describe the image (e.g., "A woman using a laptop in a park").
• Decorative images: For purely decorative images, use an empty alt attribute (alt="") or mark as a "for decorative purposes only" (if option available) so screen readers can skip them.
• Provide text alternatives: If the image contains important information or content, make sure to provide that content in plain text outside of the image. This ensures that users relying on screen readers or those with slow-loading images still get all the necessary information.

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Make Links and Buttons Accessible

• Descriptive link text: Use clear and descriptive link text (e.g., “Read the full report” rather than “Click here”). This helps users with screen readers understand where a link will take them.
• Focus indicators: Ensure buttons and links are navigable using a keyboard and have visible focus indicators to show where a user is on the page.

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Use Color Carefully

• Do not rely on color alone: Avoid using color as the only means of conveying information (e.g., “Click the red button”). Use text or icons alongside colors to provide context.
• High-contrast visuals: Ensure sufficient contrast between text, backgrounds, and interactive elements. 

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Accessible Multimedia (Videos and Audio)

• Captions for videos: Provide accurate captions for all video content to make it accessible to users with hearing impairments. Where possible, include transcripts for audio-only content.
• Audio descriptions: If your video contains important visual content not conveyed by audio, provide audio descriptions to explain what is happening.

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Accessible Tables and Data

• Use simple table structures: Ensure that tables are well-structured, using headers to define rows and columns. Avoid complex or nested tables.
• Provide summaries: Include a summary of the table’s purpose and structure, especially for large datasets, to help screen reader users understand its content.

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Avoid Flashing or Rapidly Moving Content

• Avoid content that flashes more than three times per second: Flashing content can trigger seizures in individuals with photosensitive epilepsy. Keep animations minimal or avoid them altogether if not necessary.

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Accessible PDFs and Documents

• Link to accessible documents: Ensure that any downloadable PDFs or documents are accessible by tagging them properly, using descriptive headings, and including alt text for images.

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More Resources

• Accessibility for Web Design course by Derek Featherstone on LinkedIn Learning