Technology should feel effortless, welcoming everyone to participate. In today's digital age, accessibility isn't a luxury; it's fundamental. As the British computer scientist widely credited as the inventor of the World Wide Web, Tim Berners-Lee said: “The power of the Web is in its universality. Access by everyone regardless of disability is an essential aspect.” Yet, many companies unintentionally create barriers for users with disabilities.
Accessibility testing is key here—it ensures that websites, apps, and software are easy to use for all users. By focusing on accessibility, companies not only meet legal requirements but also create a more inclusive digital environment where everyone can participate equally.
Our very own QA experts, Rodrigo García Saenz and Daniel Gomez Betancur are masters of accessibility testing. They recently delivered a masterclass on the topic during our QA and Automation Days.
In this article, we'll teach you how to follow their guidelines for identifying violations of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) in web pages using Axe.
But first, let's go through some basics!
What is Accessibility Testing?
Accessibility testing is a resource that promotes inclusivity and creates a better user experience for everyone in a digital product. It entails evaluating digital products and services to ensure they are usable by individuals with disabilities. This process involves several key aspects:
Manual Inspection: Review the website or application to identify accessibility issues such as inadequate color contrast, missing alternative text for images, or improper use of heading structures.
Automated Tools: Using software tools designed to scan web pages and applications for accessibility compliance. These tools can identify issues that may not be immediately apparent through manual inspection.
Assistive Technology Testing: Simulating the experience of users with disabilities by using assistive technologies such as screen readers, magnifiers, voice recognition software, and keyboard-only navigation. This helps testers understand how users with disabilities interact with the digital product.
Compliance with Standards: Ensuring adherence to accessibility standards such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). These guidelines provide criteria for making digital content more accessible to a wide range of disabilities.
User Testing: Involving individuals with disabilities in the testing process to gather real-world feedback on the accessibility of the product. This helps identify usability issues and ensures the product meets the needs of diverse user groups.
Overall, accessibility testing aims to remove barriers and provide equal access to information and functionality for users with disabilities, promoting inclusivity in digital environments.
Why is Accessibility Testing Important?
Accessibility testing is crucial for several reasons:
1. Inclusivity: It ensures that digital products and services are accessible to all users, including those with disabilities such as visual impairments, hearing impairments, motor disabilities, and cognitive disabilities. By making products accessible, businesses and organizations can reach a broader audience and ensure equal access to information and services.
2. Legal Compliance: Many countries have laws and regulations requiring digital content to be accessible. Non-compliance can lead to legal repercussions and fines. Accessibility testing helps businesses meet these legal requirements and avoid potential lawsuits.
3. Enhanced User Experience: Accessible design principles often improve usability for all users, not just those with disabilities. Clear navigation, readable text, and consistent design contribute to a more intuitive and enjoyable user experience.
4. Business Reputation: Demonstrating commitment to accessibility enhances a company's reputation as socially responsible and inclusive. It can attract more customers, improve brand loyalty, and differentiate the organization from competitors.
5. SEO Benefits: Accessible websites often perform better in search engine rankings because they provide clear and structured content that search engines can easily crawl and index.
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)
WCAG is an internationally recognized guideline and standard for making web content more accessible to people with disabilities. It has three levels of conformance:
Level A: These are the basic requirements for accessibility and should be met by all web content
Level AA: Represent a higher level of accessibility and should be followed to make web content more usable for a wider range of people with disabilities.
Level AAA: These guidelines are the highest level of accessibility and provide the most comprehensive level of support for users with disabilities.
Adhering to WCAG guidelines helps ensure that web content is accessible to a broad range of people, including those with disabilities such as visual, auditory, physical, speech, cognitive, language, learning, and neurological disabilities.
Introducing Axe: A Tool for Accessibility Testing
Axe is an invaluable open-source tool designed to streamline accessibility testing within JavaScript automation frameworks. It allows developers and testers to automate the detection of WCAG violations directly within their development and testing workflows. By integrating Axe into existing automation setups, teams can proactively identify and address accessibility issues early in the development lifecycle.
Are you looking to hire a React expert? Read this and discover the top React Developers from LatAm!
Why Use Axe for Accessibility Testing?
Axe simplifies the process of accessibility analysis by providing automated checks for common WCAG violations. These include issues such as missing alternative text for images, inadequate color contrast, and improper use of ARIA roles. By leveraging Axe, development teams can ensure that their web applications meet WCAG standards without extensive manual effort.
Benefits of Using Axe
Efficiency: Axe integrates seamlessly into JavaScript automation frameworks, allowing for efficient and continuous accessibility testing.
Accuracy: It provides detailed reports on accessibility violations, helping teams prioritize and fix issues effectively.
Compliance: By adhering to WCAG guidelines, organizations mitigate legal risks and enhance user experience for all users.
Implementing Axe in Your Development Workflow
Developers can incorporate Axe into their existing testing frameworks, such as Jest, Cypress, or Selenium, to begin using Axe. This integration enables automated accessibility testing during both the development and QA phases, ensuring that accessibility considerations are addressed from the outset.
Conclusion
At Jalasoft, we believe technology should be for everyone. This unwavering belief guides our development process, anchored by five core principles: Reciprocity, Equity, Autonomy, Commitment, and Humility. These values ensure we create software solutions that are not only accessible and usable but also inclusive and fair for every user.
Our experts specialize in implementing tools like Axe to seamlessly integrate accessibility testing into your development processes. By partnering with Jalasoft, you're embracing inclusivity and enhancing the usability of your digital solutions for everyone.
Contact us today to discover how we can help make your digital products accessible to all.
Meet Our Latin American Experts
Daniel Gomez Betancur:
Daniel is a dynamic figure at Jalasoft, bringing a unique blend of mechatronics engineering and a deep passion for programming to his role as QE Automation Engineer.
Born in Colombia, Daniel's career journey is characterized by his relentless pursuit of knowledge and innovation in automation testing.
Beyond his technical prowess, Daniel enjoys exploring the world of video games, immersing himself in books, and staying physically active through running.
His dedication to continuous improvement is reflected in his favorite quote, “You didn’t get this far to only go this far!” underscoring his commitment to pushing boundaries and achieving excellence in software automation.
Rodrigo Garcia Saenz
Rodrigo Garcia Saenz is a seasoned software engineer at Jalasoft, recognized for his expertise in automation testing and advocacy for free software principles. With a strong background in developing and implementing automation solutions, Rodrigo plays a pivotal role in ensuring the quality and efficiency of software products. His passion for open-source technologies aligns with Jalasoft's ethos of innovation and accessibility in software development. Rodrigo's contributions extend beyond technical excellence; he actively promotes the adoption of free software practices within the company, fostering a culture of collaboration and cutting-edge technology solutions.
