Accessibility Checklist

Complete Web Accessibility Checklist

This Web Accessibility Checklist summarizes the most important WCAG accessibility requirements that every developer should verify before publishing a website. Following this checklist helps build websites that are accessible, usable, and compatible with assistive technologies while improving SEO and overall user experience.

Review every section during development, testing, and deployment. Combine automated accessibility testing with manual testing to ensure your website works for everyone.

1. Semantic HTML

• ✔ Use semantic HTML elements such as header, main, nav, section, article, and footer.
• ✔ Use headings in the correct order without skipping levels.
• ✔ Use lists for grouped content.
• ✔ Use tables only for tabular data.

2. Images & Multimedia

• ✔ Add meaningful alternative text to informative images.
• ✔ Use empty alt attributes for decorative images.
• ✔ Provide captions for videos.
• ✔ Provide transcripts for audio content.
• ✔ Avoid images that contain important text.

3. Keyboard Accessibility

• ✔ Verify every interactive element is keyboard accessible.
• ✔ Ensure keyboard focus remains visible.
• ✔ Verify logical tab order.
• ✔ Avoid keyboard traps.
• ✔ Include skip navigation links.

4. Forms

• ✔ Associate every form control with a label.
• ✔ Mark required fields clearly.
• ✔ Provide helpful validation messages.
• ✔ Explain how to correct validation errors.
• ✔ Group related fields using fieldset and legend.

5. Color & Visual Design

• ✔ Meet WCAG color contrast requirements.
• ✔ Never rely on color alone to communicate information.
• ✔ Support browser zoom up to at least 200%.
• ✔ Allow text spacing adjustments.
• ✔ Respect prefers-reduced-motion settings.

6. ARIA

• ✔ Use semantic HTML before using ARIA.
• ✔ Apply ARIA roles only when necessary.
• ✔ Keep ARIA states synchronized.
• ✔ Use live regions for dynamic updates.
• ✔ Validate all ARIA attributes.

7. Interactive Components

• ✔ Ensure buttons use the native button element.
• ✔ Use descriptive links.
• ✔ Manage focus correctly in dialogs and modals.
• ✔ Support keyboard navigation in menus, tabs, and dropdowns.
• ✔ Test all interactive widgets with screen readers.

8. Responsive Accessibility

• ✔ Test on desktop, tablet, and mobile devices.
• ✔ Verify layouts reflow correctly.
• ✔ Ensure touch targets are large enough.
• ✔ Verify responsive navigation remains accessible.
• ✔ Test portrait and landscape orientations.

9. Accessibility Testing

• ✔ Test with keyboard navigation.
• ✔ Test using screen readers.
• ✔ Run automated accessibility tools.
• ✔ Use browser accessibility inspectors.
• ✔ Validate HTML.
• ✔ Perform manual accessibility reviews.

10. WCAG Compliance

• ✔ Perceivable — Provide text alternatives, captions, and sufficient contrast.
• ✔ Operable — Support keyboard navigation and logical focus.
• ✔ Understandable — Use clear language and predictable interfaces.
• ✔ Robust — Use semantic HTML, valid markup, and proper ARIA.