Accessibility Checking for Large Sites
Rocket Validator integrates axe-core version 4.6, into an automated web site scanner.
<dt> and <dd> elements must be contained by a <dl>
To be valid, definition list items (dt
and / or dd
) must be enclosed by parent dl
elements. This allows screen reader users to recognize the right hierarchy of the list’s information.
A definition list item is invalid if it is not surrounded by parent dl
elements.
A definition list must adhere to a particular hierarchy. Using the dl
element, a list is defined. It is followed by alternating sets of dt
and dd
elements, beginning with dt
. dt
elements define a term while dd
elements denote a term’s description. Each group of dt
components must be accompanied by a group of dd
elements. In the definition list, only dt
and dd
items are permitted. If not followed, this hierarchy will render the list invalid.
What this Accessibility Rule Checks
Ensures that every child dd
and dt
element has a parent dl
element.
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Related Accessibility Rules Checked by Rocket Validator
This rule determines whether or not aria-hidden
elements contain focusable elements.
Using the property aria-hidden="true"
on an element removes the element and all of its child nodes from the accessibility API, rendering the element fully unavailable to screen readers and other assistive technology.
aria-hidden
may be used with extreme discretion to hide visibly displayed content from assistive technologies if the act of hiding this content is meant to enhance the experience of assistive technology users by reducing redundant or superfluous content.
If aria-hidden
is employed to hide material from screen readers, the same or equal meaning and functionality must be made available to assistive technologies.
Using aria-hidden="false"
on content that is a descendant of an element that is hidden using aria-hidden="true"
will not reveal that content to the accessibility API, nor will it be accessible to screen readers or other assistive technology.
The rule applies to any element whose aria-hidden
attribute value is true
.
By adding aria-hidden="true"
to an element, authors assure that assistive technologies will disregard the element.
This can be used to hide aesthetic elements, such as icon typefaces, that are not intended to be read by assistive technologies.
A focusable element with aria-hidden="true"
is disregarded as part of the reading order, but is still part of the focus order, making it unclear if it is visible or hidden.
What this Accessibility Rule Checks
For all user interface components, including form elements, links, and script-generated components, the name and role can be identified programmatically; user-specified states, properties, and values can be set programmatically; and user agents, including assistive technologies, are notified of changes.
Ensures every ARIA input field has an accessible name.
This rule ensures that each ARIA input field has a name that is accessible.
There must be accessible names for the following input field roles:
- combobox
- listbox
- searchbox
- slider
- spinbutton
- textbox
What this Accessibility Rule Checks
The names of ARIA input fields must be accessible.
Ensures that the aria-roledescription
attribute is only applied to elements having explicit or implicit role values.
Inappropriate aria-roledescription
attribute values that clash with an element’s implicit or explicit role
value can impede the web page’s accessibility. A contradictory aria-roledescription
attribute value may have no effect on the application’s accessibility and may trigger behavior that blocks accessibility for entire application sections.
When aria-roledescription
attributes are applied to HTML elements not in accordance with WAI-ARIA 1.1, a semantic conflict may occur between the aria-roledescription
value and the implicit or explicit element role
value, resulting in assistive technology products reporting nonsensical user interface (UI) information that does not accurately represent the intended UI experience.
What this Accessibility Rule Checks
Use aria-roledescription
values to adequately explain implicit or explicit element role
values.
ARIA role values must be assigned valid values. Role values must be appropriately written, correlate to existing ARIA role
values, and not be abstract roles in order to correctly display the element’s purpose.
Assistive technologies do not read elements with erroneous ARIA role values as intended by the developer.
When screen readers and other assistive devices do not know the function of each element on a web page, they are unable to interact with or communicate the function to the user. When a role value is invalid, an element’s characteristics, properties, and ways of transmitting information to and/or from the user can be communicated via assistive technologies.
What this Accessibility Rule Checks
Examines each element containing the WAI-ARIA role property to check that its value is valid.
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Makes certain that each ARIA toggle field has an accessible name.
Ensures that any element having a semantic role has a name that is easily accessible.
Among the semantic roles are:
- checkbox
- menu
- menuitemcheckbox
- menuitemradio
- radio
- radiogroup
- switch
What this Accessibility Rule Checks
There is an accessible name for ARIA toggle fields.
The title
element of the HTML document must not be empty in order to give users with an overview of its content.
Users using screen readers utilize page titles to obtain an overview of the page’s content. If a page lacks a title, navigating through it can soon become difficult and confusing for screen reader users. The title
element of the page is the first item screen reader users hear when the page loads.
When they arrive at a page, screen reader users hear the page’s title first. If there is no title
or if the title
is not descriptive and unique, users of screen readers must read the page to discern its content and purpose.
What this Accessibility Rule Checks
Makes certain that each HTML document has a title
tag associated with it.
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To help screen reader users understand the contents of each frame
or iframe
element in the document, each element must have a distinct title.
A frame title is used by screen reader users to describe the contents of the frame. If the frames are not identified with a title
element, navigating across frames and iframes can soon become challenging and confusing for users of this technology.
Users of screen readers can choose to display a list of all the titles for the frames on a page. Users can locate the frame they’re looking for more quickly by adding descriptive, distinctive labels. Without titles, moving between frames can become challenging and perplexing very quickly. Screen readers will instead provide information such as “frame,” “javascript,” the filename, or the URL if there is no title specified. This information won’t usually be particularly useful.
What this Accessibility Rule Checks
Make sure that the title attribute on every iframe
and frame
element is distinct and not empty.
When used in a document, the frame
or iframe
element’s title attribute must not be empty in order to provide context for users of screen reader software.
Users of screen readers depend on the title of a frame to describe its contents. If the HTML for a frame
or iframe
element lacks a title
attribute, navigating within the element can be a frustrating and time-consuming experience for users of this technology.
Users of screen readers can see a list of the frames on a page and their respective titles. Providing each frame with a distinct, descriptive label facilitates easy navigation. Without titles, it’s easy to get lost trying to jump from one frame to the next. Screen readers will instead provide information like “frame,” “JavaScript,” the filename, or the URL if no title is provided. This data is unlikely to be useful in most situations.
What this Accessibility Rule Checks
Make sure the title attribute of every iframe
and frame
element is both distinct and not empty.
Each form element must have a label
element attached with it programmatically.
Forms must have effective form labels in order to be accessible. Form elements like as checkboxes, radio buttons, input fields, etc. are frequently self-explanatory to sighted users, even if they are not programmatically labeled. Users with screen readers require descriptive form labels to identify form fields. Adding labels to all form elements removes uncertainty and makes the product more accessible.
When form elements lack labels, screen reader users are unaware of the expected data input. Screen readers cannot determine information about input items programmatically in the absence of an established label association (or redundant text functioning as a label).
Since clicking the label activates the control, people with weak motor control do not benefit from a bigger clickable area for the control.
What this Accessibility Rule Checks
Ensures that each form element has a label associated with it programmatically.
When used as links, link text and alternative text for images must be recognizable by screen readers, have no duplicate labels, and be focusable.
- Accessibility is hindered by inaccessible link components, as they are a crucial component of a website.
- Users who traverse a webpage using only the keyboard (and no mouse) can only click on links that can gain programmed emphasis. Inaccessible to these users is any link that cannot gain programmatic focus.
- Similar to sighted people, screen reader users must know where a link leads. This information is provided via inner link text, albeit it will not be utilized if a screen reader cannot access it.
-
Only the links and form components that can get programmatic focus can be activated by keyboard users, including those with visual impairments or those who cannot use a mouse. Keyboard users cannot access events activated only by other sorts of focus, such as
onmouseover
events that depend on the mouse hover focus. By default, only links and form elements receive keyboard emphasis. Addtabindex="0"
to items that are not links or form components to make them focusable.
What this Accessibility Rule Checks
Ensures that each link’s name is accessible.
12,500 Accessibility and HTML checks per week. Fully automated.
Let our automated scanner check your large sites using Axe Core and W3C Validator.