Improving Accessibility with ARIA Labels

At times, elements on your website may lack a default accessible name or have a name that doesn't accurately describe their content.

The aria-label attribute comes in handy in such situations. This attribute allows you to provide a concise label for an element, enhancing its accessibility. This is particularly useful when elements lack visible text or when the visible text doesn't adequately convey their purpose or meaning.

For instance, a button's accessible name is usually the text within its tags, an image's name is its alt text, and a form input's name is the label text associated with it. However, in cases where these are insufficient or non-existent, you can employ the aria-label attribute to provide a clear and descriptive label.

Example

Let's consider a button with an icon for a social media share feature. Without a visible label, this button might be unclear for screen reader users. By using aria-label, you can explicitly define its purpose:

<button aria-label="Share on Twitter">
  <!-- Icon or content for Twitter share -->
</button>

By incorporating tools like aria-label and other accessibility strategies, you can significantly enhance your website's inclusivity and user-friendliness, ensuring a better experience for all users, including those with disabilities.