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Why accessibility is so important for websites

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What are the characteristics of accessible websites?

Web accessibility is not only an ethical obligation, but also a legal requirement in many countries. It ensures that people with disabilities can use websites without problems. At the same time, an accessible website improves the user experience for all users and has a positive impact on SEO. But what exactly makes a website accessible? In this article, you'll learn about the most important features and best practices.

Why is website accessibility so important?

An accessible website ensures that people with different disabilities—be it visual impairment, hearing impairment, motor impairment, or cognitive disability—can access digital content equally. According to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), there are four basic principles for accessible websites:

  • Perceptibility – Content must be accessible to all users.
  • Usability – Navigation must work without restrictions.
  • Comprehensibility – Content must be easy to understand.
  • robustness – The website must be compatible with different devices and assistive technologies.

Now let’s look at the specific features of accessible websites.

1. Clear and well-structured content

  • Simple language: Avoid complicated technical terms and long sentences.
  • Heading hierarchy: Use correctly structured headings (H1, H2, H3) for better orientation.
  • Lists and paragraphs: Clear paragraphs and ordered lists make reading and understanding easier.

2. Alternative texts for images (alt tags)

Images and graphics should always be provided with meaningful alternative text (alt tags). Screen readers read this text aloud so that blind or visually impaired users can also understand the content.

❌ Bad: <img src="bild.jpg" alt=""/> ✅ Good: <img src="hund.jpg" alt="A brown Labrador runs across a green meadow."/>

3. Keyboard-friendly navigation

Not all users can use a mouse. Accessible websites must be fully navigable using the keyboard. This means:

✔ Note the tab order – Navigation should be logically structured. ✔ Make keyboard focus visible – Clearly mark active elements such as buttons or links. ✔ Use jump labels – Allows direct navigation to important areas such as the main content.

Example of a jump label:

<a href="#main-content" class="skip-link">Skip to main content</a>

4. High color contrast and easy-to-read fonts

Users with color vision deficiencies or visual impairments benefit from a high color contrast ratio between text and background. WCAG recommends:

  • At least 4.5:1 for normal text.
  • At least 3:1 for large fonts or icons.

In addition, the font should: ✔ Don't be too small (at least 16px recommended). ✔ Be easy to read (sans serif fonts like Arial or Open Sans). ✔ Do not use purely color-based information (e.g. “red error indicator” should also have a label).

5. Subtitles and transcripts for multimedia content

Videos and audio files must be provided with subtitles or transcripts so that deaf users can understand them.

Example of a transcript integration:

<a href="/en/transkript.txt/">Download transcript</a>

6. Make forms accessible

Forms are often a hurdle for people with disabilities. Keep the following in mind:

✔ Unique labels: Each input field must have a clear label. ✔ Formulate error messages clearly: Avoid unclear messages like "Error 1 occurred." ✔ Use autocomplete: Makes filling out easier.

Example of an accessible label:

7. Responsive design and mobile friendliness

Accessibility also means that the website is optimally displayed on all devices (desktop, tablet, and smartphone). Responsive design automatically adjusts content to the screen size.

✔ Do not block zoom function ✔ Sufficient distance between click surfaces ✔ Easy-to-read font sizes on small displays

8. Compatibility with screen readers and assistive software

Blind and visually impaired users use screen readers such as JAWS, NVDA, or VoiceOver. An accessible website:

✔ Uses semantic HTML (no nested div containers for navigation elements). ✔ Avoids automatic pop-ups or moving content that is difficult to stop. ✔ Has ARIA attributes (role="navigation", aria-label="Menu") to support screen readers.

9. Test accessibility – tools for verification

There are several tools you can use to test whether your website is accessible:

Conclusion: Accessibility is a must for every website

Read more about accessibility

An accessible website not only improves usability for people with disabilities, but also offers benefits for SEO, usability and legal security.

👉 Accessibility increases reach – More users can consume your content. 👉 Google prefers accessible websites – Improved rankings and fewer bounces. 👉 Comply with legal requirements – Avoid warnings and legal penalties.

Implementing accessible websites isn't an optional extra, but a requirement for modern companies. Those who invest in accessibility today will benefit in the long run through a broader target audience and improved visibility on the web.

An article by
Moritz Martin
category
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