In the world of web accessibility, it’s the little things that make a big difference. And when it comes to ARIA, one of the most important little things is to make sure that you are using valid values for your ARIA roles. ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) attributes are a set of attributes that can be added to HTML elements to make them more accessible to people with disabilities. They are often used to provide additional information about the role, state, and properties of an element. This guide will explore the importance of using valid values for your ARIA roles and how to fix it.

Think of your website as a play. Each actor has a specific role to play, and they need to know what that role is in order to perform it correctly. The same is true for your website. By making sure that you are using valid values for your ARIA roles, you can create a more accessible and user-friendly experience for everyone. For a deeper dive into the world of accessibility, see our article on accessibility.

An illustration of a casting call, symbolizing the importance of assigning the right ARIA roles.

Your Guide to a More Accessible and User-Friendly Website

Fixing invalid ARIA role values is a simple but important task. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Identify Your Elements with Invalid ARIA Role Values: Use an accessibility testing tool like Creeper to crawl your site and identify any elements that are using invalid ARIA role values.
  2. Use a Valid Value for the ARIA Role: The ARIA specification defines which values are valid for the role attribute. You can also use an accessibility testing tool like Creeper to identify any elements that are using invalid ARIA role values.

The SEO Power of an Accessible Website

An accessible website is a more successful website. By making your website more accessible, you can improve your user experience, reach a wider audience, and even improve your SEO. For more on the importance of a well-structured website, check out this guide to ARIA roles from MDN.

Don’t let your website be a confusing and frustrating experience for your users. By taking the time to use valid values for your ARIA roles, you can build a more accessible and successful online presence. For more on how to create a winning on-page strategy, see our article on on-page SEO.

An illustration of a play, symbolizing the importance of each element on your website playing the right role.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an ARIA role?

An ARIA role is an attribute that can be added to an HTML element to define its purpose. For example, you can use the ‘role=”button”‘ attribute to indicate that an element is a button.

Why is it important to use valid values for my ARIA roles?

It’s important to use valid values for your ARIA roles so that screen readers can announce the correct information to the user. This is crucial for users who are blind or have low vision.

How do I know which values are valid for the role attribute?

The ARIA specification defines which values are valid for the role attribute. You can also use an accessibility testing tool like Creeper to identify any elements that are using invalid ARIA role values.

Ready to cast your website for success? Start your Creeper audit today and see how you can improve your use of ARIA roles.