CSS Accessibility Styling
A website should be designed to ensure good accessibility for all users, including those with disabilities.
CSS accessibility styling is about using good styling technics to improve the visual clarity, navigation, and overall user experience.
CSS Accessibility Styling Technics
Here are some tips and technics on how to improve the accessibility of your web site:
1. Provide High Color Contrast
Always use a good color contrast between the text and the background for readability. This is especially important for users with visual impairments or color blindness.
Good Color Contrast
body {
background-color: #ffffff;
color: #000000;
}
Bad Color Contrast
body {
background-color: #eeeeee;
color: #cccccc;
}
2. Provide Good Font, Font Size and Line Height
Always provide a font that is easily readable. In addition, use a proper font size and line height. Use relative units (like rem) for font-size, to allow the user to scale the text size in the browser settings.
Good Font Example
body {
font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
font-size: 1rem;
line-height: 1.6;
}
Bad Font Example
body {
font-family: Georgia, serif;
font-size: 12px;
font-style: italic;
font-variant: small-caps;
line-height: 90%;
}
3. Have Visible Focus Indicators
Always use the :focus pseudo-class to ensure that interactive elements (like links, buttons, input fields) have a clear visual focus style.
Using :focus will ensure that keyboard users and screen-readers understand which element is currently active.
Example
a:focus,
button:focus,
input:focus {
outline: 2px solid orange;
}
4. Avoid Hiding Focus
Never remove the default focus outlines, without replacing them with another visible focus style.
Bad Example
button:focus {
outline: none;
}
Good Example
button:focus {
outline: 2px solid orange;
}
5. Use CSS + Semantic HTML
Use CSS for visual styling, and structure content with semantic HTML elements (instead of non-semantic elements, like <div> for everything).
Example
nav {
background-color: #333333;
color: white;
}
aside {
background-color: #333333;
color: white;
}
6. Respect User Preferences
The CSS prefers-reduced-motion @media feature lets you check if a user has asked to reduce motion, such as animations or transitions.
Some users have motion sensitivity and prefer websites with less animation. You can use this media query to turn off, or tone down animations and transitions for the users who has activated this setting on their computer:
Example
@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
* {
animation: none !important;
transition: none !important;
}
}
You will learn more about media queries in a later chapter.
Summary
- Provide high color contrast
- Provide easily readable fonts
- Keep focus outlines visible
- Use semantic HTML elements
- Respect user preferences
