ARIA stands for Accessible Rich Internet Applications.
ARIA helps make complex and dynamic web interfaces more accessible to users of assistive technologies.
What ARIA Does
ARIA adds extra information to HTML elements so screen readers can understand their purpose.
It is mainly used when standard HTML elements are not enough.
Important Rule of ARIA
Use native HTML elements first.
Only use ARIA when HTML alone cannot provide the required accessibility.
This button is already accessible. ARIA is not needed here.
When ARIA Is Needed
ARIA is useful when:
- You create custom components
- You use non-standard elements
- You build dynamic interfaces
Here, ARIA role tells screen readers that this div behaves like a button.
Common ARIA Roles
Some frequently used ARIA roles include:
- button
- navigation
- dialog
- alert
ARIA Labels
ARIA labels provide names to elements that have no visible text.
Screen readers announce the button as "Close window" instead of "X".
ARIA States and Properties
ARIA can describe the state of elements such as:
- aria-expanded
- aria-hidden
- aria-checked
This tells screen readers whether the menu is open or closed.
Common ARIA Mistakes
- Using ARIA on elements that are already accessible
- Forgetting keyboard support
- Adding roles without proper behavior
Why ARIA Matters for Jobs
ARIA is used in modern web applications.
Employers expect developers to understand ARIA basics and use it correctly.
Practice Task
Create a custom button using a div and make it accessible using role and tabindex.
What You Will Learn Next
In the next lesson, you will learn professional accessibility best practices.