Accessibility testing checks whether a website works for people with disabilities, including those using screen readers or keyboard navigation. The best practice is to combine automated tools like WAVE, axe DevTools, and Lighthouse with manual testing, real user feedback, and a focus on high-impact issues, because automated scanners catch only part of what matters.
The importance of web accessibility: a real-world scenario
You just got home after a hard day at work and you’re too tired to cook, so you decide to visit a restaurant’s website to check the menu. But as you try to view it, the text is hard to read, buttons are unresponsive, and the images don’t have descriptions. Frustrating, right? This is the reality many users face when websites aren’t accessible. In fact, 70% of disabled shoppers leave inaccessible websites (Click-Away Pound).
In other words, inaccessible websites cause companies to lose their users. While accessibility testing tools can help detect some issues, they can’t catch everything. In this article, you’ll learn best practices to consider when using accessibility tools to test the code of your project’s website.
Why manual testing is essential for accurate accessibility evaluation
When it comes to testing your project’s code for accessibility, it’s always best to remember that two heads are better than one. While tools like Accessibility Insights or WAVE’s Chrome Extension are powerful, sometimes their results might not offer the best solution. For example, I was working on making the background and foreground colors of DocsGPT’s website more accessible. Initially, I went with the test results’ suggestion to use the hex code #727272 (gray) for the foreground, but something inside me told me to choose a different color.
So I asked the project’s maintainer for some suggestions and they recommended that I go with the hex code #595959 (a lighter gray) because it causes users to focus more on the tool and complies with the WCAG guidelines for color contrast. Now, manual testing is not the only way to use accessibility testing tools effectively. Let’s look at another one.
How to gather valuable feedback for accessibility improvements
Even though accessibility testing tools quickly provide insight on how a website can be more accessible, it’s always best to involve users with disabilities or people who are accessibility experts. After running an accessibility test on PingCAP’s documentation site with the WAVE Chrome Extension, it revealed that the icons were missing alt text. So, I added alt text to the icons and asked one of the maintainers who is knowledgeable in web accessibility for feedback.
They used a screen reader on the deployed version of my contribution and found the changes to be effective. Now, gathering feedback is not the only way to use accessibility tools effectively. Let’s look at another one.
Prioritizing accessibility issues: focus on high-impact fixes
Remember the saying, ‘Not all things are created equal’? The same applies to web accessibility. When using accessibility tools to test code, these tools often identify numerous issues, so it’s crucial for developers to prioritize the most critical ones to ensure meaningful improvements for all users.
For example, a colleague of mine raised a couple of accessibility issues for LinksHub’s website using IBM’s browser extension. After debating on which issues needed more attention, I decided to work on improving the site’s social media icons because I was concerned that screen reader users would have a harder time navigating the website. From there, my colleague worked on adding
<aria-label>tags to the links and buttons.
As a result, more screen reader users had an easier time navigating the website. Now, before you leave and start tinkering with accessibility tools, there’s just one more best practice to consider.
Using multiple accessibility testing tools: a smarter approach
When it comes to using accessibility testing tools, it’s always best to use more than one. They can give you more ideas on how to make your code more accessible. I was testing Leonardo Montini’s open-source project (a really neat site where you can post your open-source contributions to your resume or CV) for accessibility. First, I found that the website scored 2.93:1 on WebAIM’s color contrast checker. Then I ran a test using the WAVE Chrome extension and found that the form elements were missing <label> tags.
So, I changed the primary color’s hex code from #3b82f6 (dodger blue) to #2d63bc (blue streak) and then added the <label> tag to the website’s dropdown button.
Best accessibility testing tools to improve your website
Here are some useful accessibility testing tools that can help improve your website:
- WAVE Chrome Extension: Detects contrast issues, missing alt text, and ARIA errors directly in the browser.
- axe DevTools (Deque): A browser extension and automated engine (axe-core) that runs WCAG checks and plugs into CI/CD pipelines, one of the most widely used developer tools.
- Google Lighthouse: Built into Chrome DevTools, it scores accessibility alongside performance, SEO, and best practices.
- Accessibility Insights (Microsoft): Provides automated scans plus guided manual testing, built on the axe engine.
- Pa11y: An open-source command-line tool for running automated accessibility tests in CI/CD.
- IBM Equal Access Accessibility Checker: Identifies accessibility issues within web pages.
- WebAIM Contrast Checker: Assesses color contrast compliance with WCAG.
- Screen readers (NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver): Essential for manual testing, they reveal how real assistive-technology users actually experience your site, which automated tools can’t fully capture.
Conclusion
By combining the power of accessibility testing tools with manual testing methods, real user feedback, and a focus on prioritizing critical issues, you can create digital experiences that all users can enjoy. Whether you’re developing a personal project or working on a company website, accessibility should be a key priority. Start testing today and make the web a better place for everyone.
Accessibility is not just a feature, it’s a responsibility. By following these best practices and automating the checks you can, you can build more inclusive digital experiences. And if parts of your site are served by APIs, keeping those APIs reliable matters too, which is where a tool like Keploy helps, though it tests API behavior rather than accessibility itself.
FAQs
1. What is accessibility testing?
Accessibility testing ensures that digital products (websites, apps, etc.) are usable by people with disabilities, including those who rely on screen readers or keyboard navigation.
2. Can automated tools replace manual accessibility testing?
No. Automated tools are great for detecting common issues, but manual testing with real users ensures a more inclusive user experience.
3. How often should accessibility testing be performed?
Regularly! Ideally, accessibility should be tested throughout the development lifecycle to prevent issues from accumulating.
4. How does Keploy fit into accessibility testing?
While Keploy specializes in API testing, it can be used alongside accessibility tools to ensure that APIs serving accessible content are functioning correctly and efficiently.