Accessibility Basics for Developers: Building Inclusive Websites

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Accessibility isn’t an add-on. It’s core to performance, usability, and trust. Here’s how developers can bake inclusion into every build.

Accessibility (a11y) means making sure everyone can use your site—whether they’re navigating with a screen reader, limited bandwidth, or motor impairments. For developers, accessibility is not just compliance with standards like WCAG; it’s also a performance and UX win. Faster, more usable pages help all users.

Google’s own docs stress that accessible design improves discoverability. Governments worldwide are enforcing regulations like the ADA and GDPR. And businesses that embrace inclusive design see broader reach and stronger trust. In short: a11y isn’t optional—it’s a competitive edge.

Related reading: Understanding Core Web Vitals and UX Principles for Conversion.

1. Semantic HTML Is the Foundation

Accessibility begins with clean, semantic HTML. Elements like <header>, <nav>, <main>, and <footer> tell assistive technologies where users are on the page. Proper heading hierarchy (<h1>–<h6>) is vital—screen readers use it as a table of contents.

Resist the temptation to build everything with <div> and <span>. While frameworks and utility CSS make styling easy, they often encourage developers to flatten semantics. When in doubt, choose the native element first.

If you’re structuring larger projects, see File Structure for Speed and Scale—good organization supports better markup discipline.

2. Provide Text Alternatives

Every non-text element should have a text alternative. Images use alt attributes; videos need captions; audio requires transcripts. These aren’t just for compliance—they improve SEO and usability in low-bandwidth scenarios.

For decorative images, use empty alt="". Screen readers will skip them, reducing noise. For critical graphics (like infographics or charts), write concise descriptions that convey meaning. The WebAIM guide on alt text is a gold standard.

Internal reminder: brand assets and visuals should align with your style guide. See Creating Brand Guidelines for Your Website for consistency tips.

3. Ensure Keyboard Navigability

Many users don’t use a mouse. They rely on keyboard navigation with the Tab key, arrow keys, or switch devices. As a developer, test whether all interactive elements—links, buttons, form fields—are reachable and operable via keyboard alone.

Use logical focus order and visible focus indicators. Avoid disabling outlines unless you’re replacing them with something equally clear. Check How to Create Intuitive Interfaces for UX-driven focus design patterns.

For testing, the axe accessibility rules from Deque provide automated checks, but manual keyboard testing is still essential.

4. Color, Contrast, and Visual Clarity

Visual design directly impacts inclusivity. Users with low vision or color blindness may miss critical information if contrast is too low or if color alone conveys meaning. WCAG 2.1 requires a minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text.

Use tools like the Contrast Ratio checker to validate palettes. When building brand-driven designs, balance creativity with accessibility. How Color Palettes Impact Website Conversions dives deeper into psychology and compliance.

Remember: accessibility is not about making sites bland. It’s about making sure everyone can perceive content effectively.

5. Forms and Error Handling

Forms are often where accessibility breaks down. Every <input> should have an associated <label>. Use aria-describedby for hints and aria-invalid for errors. Error messages should be descriptive and programmatically linked.

Don’t rely solely on color to indicate errors—pair it with text or icons. Screen readers should announce the issue clearly. The Smashing Magazine guide on accessible components is a comprehensive reference.

For a broader context on performance and form UX, review Best Practices for Mobile Performance—mobile users often overlap with accessibility-critical audiences.

6. Test with Real Assistive Technologies

Automated tools catch low-hanging fruit but never replace human testing. Developers should occasionally run their sites with screen readers like NVDA (Windows) or VoiceOver (macOS). Testing with real users provides feedback no tool can replicate.

For broader testing strategies, see Checklist Before Launching a Site. Accessibility should be part of your QA pipeline, not an afterthought.

Resources: W3C Evaluation Tools and WAVE Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool.

Why Accessibility Pays Off

Accessibility is not just compliance. It’s strategy. Inclusive design broadens your audience, protects against legal risk, and improves SEO and performance. For developers, it’s also craftsmanship—writing clean code that stands the test of time.

Building inclusive websites aligns perfectly with business outcomes: higher conversions, lower bounce rates, and stronger trust. When every visitor can use your site effectively, you’re not leaving money—or credibility—on the table.

Accessibility is the foundation of modern web performance. Without it, even the fastest site fails real users. With it, your brand signals quality, trust, and care.

Build Inclusive Sites with Maelstrom

Spot an error or a better angle? Tell me and I’ll update the piece. I’ll credit you by name—or keep it anonymous if you prefer. Accuracy > ego.

Portrait of Mason Goulding

Mason Goulding · Founder, Maelstrom Web Services

Builder of fast, hand-coded static sites with SEO baked in. Stack: Eleventy · Vanilla JS · Netlify · Figma

With 10 years of writing expertise and currently pursuing advanced studies in computer science and mathematics, Mason blends human behavior insights with technical execution. His Master’s research at CSU–Sacramento examined how COVID-19 shaped social interactions in academic spaces — see his thesis on Relational Interactions in Digital Spaces During the COVID-19 Pandemic . He applies his unique background and skills to create successful builds for California SMBs.

Every build follows Google’s E-E-A-T standards: scalable, accessible, and future-proof.