Accessibility (a11y)
Designing products usable by people with the widest range of abilities.
Accessibility (often abbreviated 'a11y') is the practice of making digital products usable by everyone, including people with visual, motor, auditory, or cognitive disabilities. It covers colour contrast, keyboard navigation, screen-reader support, captions, and clear language.
Beyond being the right thing to do (and often a legal requirement), accessible design improves usability for all users and is increasingly a ranking and trust factor.
Key characteristics
- Guided by WCAG, organised around four principles: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, Robust (POUR).
- Covers vision, motor, auditory and cognitive needs — and benefits everyone (curb-cut effect).
- Practical basics: colour contrast, keyboard navigation, alt text, focus states, semantic HTML.
- Often a legal requirement (ADA, EAA, Section 508) as well as an ethical one.
Example
Adding visible focus outlines and proper labels lets a keyboard-only user complete a booking that was previously impossible without a mouse.
Frequently asked questions
What does a11y mean?
"a11y" is a numeronym for accessibility — the letter a, 11 letters, then y. It is shorthand widely used in design and development communities.
What WCAG level should I aim for?
WCAG 2.2 Level AA is the common target for most websites and the benchmark referenced by most accessibility laws. Level AAA is stricter and usually applied selectively.
Related terms
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