Website accessibility: Test keyboards, menus and forms
· PoolByte Technology
A web accessibility check helps evaluate the use of your site by people with different vision, mobility and cognitive needs. This work is not just about a color setting or the accessibility icon appearing on the screen. The user should be able to open the menu, select the product, understand the form error, and complete the transaction. For an initial review, testing real tasks is more revealing than looking at the auto score alone.
Select the tasks to test first
A good starting set is the home page, menu, product detail, login form and contact form. Write a task for each page: find the service description, submit a quote form, or log out from the account menu. The result of the test should not be “the page opened” but the completion of the task in an understandable manner.
Keep a small problem diary. Record the page address, device used, expected behavior, problem encountered and repeat steps. Instead of general notes like “Mobile is bad”, write “Send button does not appear when the keyboard is opened and the page cannot be scrolled”. Such a record makes it easier for the developer to reproduce the bug and verify the fix.
Use the site with keyboard only
Try releasing the mouse and navigating with Tab and Shift+Tab. It should show which item is selected. Buttons with enter or appropriate key should work; There must be a way out from the drop-down menu. If the focus goes to unseen links inside the closed menu, the user may lose track of where they are.
When you open a dialog window, specifically check the focus relationship. When the window closes, can the person return to the button where they started the action or to the logical next point? Does the fixed title of the page cover the selected area? Repeat these steps on a long menu and an error-prone form. The layout that works on the short home page may behave differently in the actual operation.
Evaluate forms with labels, error and success messages
Each area should have a permanent and clear label. Placeholder can be used to show sample data; It should not replace the domain name alone. Required fields and desired format should be understood before submission. When an error occurs, describe the problem with text instead of just making the border red.
Do not empty all fields when the phone number is entered incorrectly. Specify where the user will correct and keep entries that can be safely protected. The success message should be displayed in case the form has actually been accepted. The developer must implement appropriate notification behavior so that the person using a screen reader will notice the updated message. W3C form guide provides the technical framework for these topics.
Enlarge text and complete action on narrow screen
Increase browser zoom; Don't just look at the growth of the main title. Is the button text truncated, is the price box overflowing, are two columns overlapping? Treat special content separately, such as data tables that require horizontal scrolling. Normal paragraph and form fields disappearing from the screen is a different problem.
Do not judge contrast by the brightness of the screen; Measure with appropriate tool. The light gray helper text, deselected tab, and error message should also be examined. Do not express information only by color: for example, in the case of an order, the text “Paid for payment” may appear next to the color. Considering the user's preference for motion reduction in moving content should also be included in the design process.
Explain the purpose of images and titles
The alternative text of an informative image should explain the function of that image on the page. Producing long descriptions for decorative shapes does not benefit the user. If it serves as a visual button, its action should be understood rather than its appearance. For complex information such as graphics, a short alternative text alone may not be sufficient; textual explanation may be required.
Do not use headings to choose font size. It should reflect the relationship between the sections and enable the reader to find his or her orientation by scanning the page. Instead of “click here,” use text that describes the destination of the link. Technical specifications, package contents and support information can be found more easily under separate headings on the product page.
Sort bugs by impact
First address the issues that are completely blocking the process: the menu that won't open, the form that won't submit, or the focus trap. Then fix labels and error descriptions that are difficult to understand. Visual subtleties are also important, but should not get in the way of transaction flow. After correction, repeat the same scenario with the same device.
W3C's initial accessibility review explains that initial checks are not comprehensive conformity assessments. Scoring highly on a vehicle or completing these steps does not prove that all WCAG requirements have been met. Plan user testing and detailed evaluation on large projects.
In your design request, you can send accessible menu, form and mobile usage expectations to PoolByte . You can refer to corporate site page plan for content preparation and landing page guide for form design.