What is web accessibility?

Web accessibility is about enabling equal access to online content and services for all people, including those with visual and mobility impairment.

In practice, authoring an accessible website includes:

structuring content using code that indicates information types and hierarchies (semantic markup); semantic markup enables a screen reader to emulate the process of scanning a webpage (using headings and link text) and read webpage content aloud

marking-up content with ‘hooks’ that enable content to be effectively accessed with assistive technologies (such as screen readers)

creating an interface that is device-neutral, for example supports keyboard alternatives to mouse-based interaction

Related terms:alt [tag] text, semantic markup, tags/elements, usability, validation