In today’s digital landscape, web accessibility isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a must. Ensuring that your website is accessible means creating an inclusive digital experience for everyone, including users with disabilities. Poor accessibility can result in frustrated users, legal consequences, and lost engagement. To help you create a more accessible website, here are five crucial dos and don’ts of web development.

1. Do: Use Semantic HTML

Why It Matters

Semantic HTML provides structure and meaning to your content, making it easier for screen readers and assistive technologies to interpret your site. Proper HTML elements also enhance SEO and improve overall user experience.

How to Implement

• Use <header>, <nav>, <main>, <article>, <aside>, and <footer> to structure content logically.
• Ensure proper heading hierarchy (<h1> to <h6>) for readability and navigation.
• Avoid using <div> and <span> for elements that have meaningful alternatives.

2. Don’t: Rely Solely on Color for Information

The Issue

Many users have color blindness or visual impairments, making it difficult to distinguish elements based on color alone. If your website relies solely on color cues, you risk excluding a portion of your audience.

Best Practices

• Use text labels, patterns, or icons in addition to color.
• Ensure sufficient contrast between text and background (minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text).
• Test your design with color blindness simulation tools.

3. Do: Provide Alternative Text for Images

Why It’s Important

Alt text helps visually impaired users understand images via screen readers. It also improves SEO by making your content more discoverable.

How to Do It Right

• Describe the content and purpose of the image concisely.
• Avoid phrases like “image of” or “picture of” – screen readers already indicate that it’s an image.
• Use empty alt text (alt=””) for purely decorative images to avoid unnecessary distractions.

4. Don’t: Ignore Keyboard Navigation

The Problem

Many users rely on keyboards or assistive devices to navigate the web. If your site isn’t fully navigable without a mouse, it creates accessibility barriers.

Solutions

• Ensure all interactive elements (links, buttons, forms) are reachable via the Tab key.
• Use :focus styles to make keyboard navigation clear.
• Avoid keyboard traps—users should be able to navigate away from any element using standard keyboard controls.

5. Do: Add ARIA Roles and Landmarks Wisely

What It Does

ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) enhances the accessibility of dynamic content and complex user interfaces when HTML alone isn’t enough.

How to Apply It

• Use ARIA roles (role=”navigation”, role=”banner”, etc.) to improve screen reader interpretation.
• Avoid overusing ARIA where native HTML elements suffice.
• Test ARIA implementations with screen readers to ensure effectiveness.

Final Thoughts

Prioritizing accessibility in web development benefits all users, improves SEO, and ensures compliance with legal standards like WCAG. By following these essential dos and don’ts, you’ll create a more inclusive and user-friendly experience for everyone.