Accessibility (a11y)
01 Definition
Accessibility (a11y) meaning: Designing products so people with disabilities can perceive, understand, and use them.
Accessibility means building digital products that people with a wide range of abilities can use, including those who rely on screen readers, keyboards, or captions. The WCAG guidelines, published by the W3C, set common standards. Meeting a checklist helps but does not guarantee a good experience, so testing with disabled users still matters.
Why it matters
How Accessibility (a11y) fits the work
Accessible design lets more people use a product, supports legal compliance in many regions, and often improves clarity and usability for everyone, not only disabled users.
In context
Adding descriptive alt text, visible focus outlines, and captions let screen reader and keyboard users finish the signup that had previously blocked them.
Practical note
Automated checkers catch only part of the issues, often under half; combine them with keyboard testing, screen reader checks, and feedback from people with disabilities.