Using semantic tags and attributes can greatly improve the accessibility of a website for users with disabilities. Semantic tags are HTML tags that give meaning to the content they enclose, allowing assistive technologies like screen readers to understand the structure of the page and present it in a more meaningful way to the user.
For example, instead of using a <div> or a <span> to mark up a heading, you can use the <h1> to <h6> tags. These tags indicate that the enclosed text is a heading, and the number of the tag (e.g. <h1>) indicates the level of the heading. Using these tags correctly can help screen readers understand the structure of the page, and can also help with search engine optimization.
<h1>This is the main heading of the page</h1>
<h2>This is a subheading of the main heading</h2>
Another important semantic tag is the <nav> tag, which is used to mark up a section of the page that contains navigation links. This can help screen readers understand that the enclosed links are related to navigation, and can also make it easier for search engines to understand the structure of the page.
<nav>
<a href="#home">Home</a>
<a href="#about">About</a>
<a href="#contact">Contact</a>
</nav>
The <main> tag is used to mark up the main content of a page. This can help screen readers understand which content is the most important on the page, and can also make it easier for search engines to understand the structure of the page.
<main>
<h1>Welcome to my website</h1>
<p>Here you will find information about my products and services.</p>
</main>
The <article> tag can be used to mark up content that can stand alone, such as a blog post or a news story. This can help screen readers understand that the enclosed content is a self-contained unit, and can also make it easier for search engines to understand the structure of the page.
<article>
<h2>How to improve website accessibility</h2>
<p>One way to improve website accessibility is by using semantic tags and attributes.</p>
<p>Another way to improve website accessibility is by providing alternative text for images and other non-text content.</p>
</article>
In addition to using semantic tags, it’s also important to use attributes that can help improve accessibility. One example is the alt attribute, which is used to provide alternative text for images. Screen readers use this text to describe the image to the user, so it’s important to provide a clear and accurate description.
<img src="example.jpg" alt="A photo of a beautiful sunset over the ocean">
The aria-label attribute can be used to provide a label for an element, which can help screen readers understand the purpose of the element.
<button aria-label="Close">X</button>
The tabindex attribute can be used to specify the order in which elements on the page should receive focus when the user uses the tab key to navigate the page. This can help users with disabilities who use the keyboard to navigate the page.