What is Web Accessibility? - Explanation & Meaning
Learn what web accessibility is, how WCAG guidelines work, what the EU accessibility directive 2025 means, and why a11y is essential for inclusive web design.
Definition
Web accessibility is the practice of designing and building websites and web applications that are usable by all people, including those with visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive disabilities.
Technical explanation
Web accessibility is structured by the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), developed by the W3C. WCAG 2.2 defines four principles: perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust (POUR). Each principle contains guidelines with testable success criteria at three levels: A, AA, and AAA. Level AA is the standard most legislation requires. Technically, accessibility involves correct use of semantic HTML elements, ARIA attributes (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) for complex widgets, keyboard navigation for all interactive elements, and sufficient color contrast (minimum 4.5:1 for normal text). Screen readers like NVDA, JAWS, and VoiceOver interpret the accessibility tree the browser builds from the DOM. Focus management is crucial during SPA navigation to inform users about content changes. The European Accessibility Act (EAA), effective since June 2025, mandates that digital products and services in the EU must be accessible, with significant penalties for non-compliance. Automated tools like axe-core and Lighthouse catch approximately 30-40% of issues; manual testing with assistive technologies remains essential.
How MG Software applies this
MG Software builds accessibility in from the start of every project. We use semantic HTML, test with axe-core in our CI/CD pipeline, and conduct manual screen reader testing. Our components comply with WCAG 2.2 AA, ensuring our clients are compliant with the European Accessibility Act.
Practical examples
- A government website fully navigable by keyboard only, providing alt text for all images and captions for videos, giving citizens with disabilities full access.
- A webshop using ARIA live regions to inform screen reader users when products are added to the cart without moving focus away from the current element.
- A form placing error messages directly after the input field with aria-describedby, so screen readers announce the error in the context of the relevant field.
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
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