Building Accessible React Applications
As the web continues to evolve, creating platforms for the web has become more complex. With the advent of JavaScript component frameworks like React, a new set of concepts have emerged, including styled-components and JSX. One of the most interesting aspects of these frameworks is breaking down web pages into specific components and importing them only when needed by the user interface. But how does this impact the way the web works, and can we still write semantic code?
The Importance of Accessibility
Making a web project accessible may seem overwhelming, but it’s really just about implementing a more semantic approach to writing code to enable all users. The foundation for this is the POUR principle, which guides building accessible websites. POUR stands for Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust.
Perceivable: Availability to the Senses
The web should be available to the senses (vision, touch, and hearing) either through the browser or through assistive technologies like screen readers and screen enlargers.
Operable: User Interaction
Users can interact with all controls and interactive elements using either the mouse, keyboard, or an assistive device. We’ll explore making platforms operable in the section on focus management.
Understandable: Clear Language
We consider the use of language, including trying to minimize spelling errors and complex grammar.
Robust: Consistency Across Platforms
The platform must work the same way across all platforms.
Can React Apps Be Made Accessible?
We’ve heard this question a lot. The reason is that React applications rely on a virtual DOM, which is built every time a part of the application has to re-render because of a change. Breaking down components only accept a single root element (mostly a div), which is not semantic and won’t be recognized by an accessibility tool like a screen reader.
Achieving Semantic JSX with React Fragments
To achieve semantic JSX, there are a few tools and practices that can help make your React application more user-friendly. One solution is using React Fragments, which helps group a list of children without adding extra nodes to the DOM. This guarantees a more semantic importation of child components to parent components by creating the virtual DOM exactly as we write it.
Focus Management: Ensuring Comfortable User Experience
Focus management is crucial in ensuring a comfortable user experience. This means moving the cursor from one part of the app to another, helping users (especially those with motor disabilities) navigate the platform with the keyboard in the intended flow of the app.
Using Ref in React for Focus Management
To focus an element using React, we create a function Ref, which is a prop that is set on the element we want to reference. This allows us to select and reference an actual DOM node on the page in React.
Additional Tips for Achieving Accessibility
- Changing a div to an article/section can make a huge difference
- Use h1 – h6 for anything that is a header to notify screen readers about the page sections
- Use links for navigation
- Handle all On-click functions with a button
- If an element is off-screen, ensure that its visibility is set to hidden
- Make good use of ARIA, which helps add semantic behavior to an element that isn’t implicitly semantic
- Label buttons to give additional information on what the button does
By implementing these accessibility features and best practices, we can create a more inclusive and user-friendly web experience for everyone.