ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) is a set of attributes that enhances the accessibility of dynamic web applications. These attributes allow for a better description of the purpose and state of interactive elements, especially those that are not natively accessible in HTML.

In this chapter, we will explore the basics of ARIA, how and when to use it, and best practices to ensure your applications are inclusive.

What is ARIA?

ARIA provides roles, properties, and states that describe the behavior of web page elements to assistive technologies, such as screen readers.

ARIA Roles

Roles specify the purpose of an element, especially in dynamic interfaces. Examples of common roles:

• role="button": Indicates that an element acts as a button.
• role="dialog": Identifies a modal window.
• role="navigation": Marks a navigation section.

Example of role usage:

html

ARIA States and Properties

States describe the current condition of an element, such as whether it is expanded or selected. Examples:

• aria-expanded: Indicates whether a collapsible element is open.
• aria-selected: Marks an element as selected in a list.

Example of ARIA state:

html

Relationship between elements with ARIA

Attributes such as aria-labelledby and aria-describedby connect related elements, providing additional context.

Example of ARIA relationship:

html

Best Practices for Using ARIA

1. Use semantic HTML whenever possible: ARIA should not replace native tags.
2. Avoid overuse: Only use ARIA when necessary to enhance accessibility.
3. Test with assistive technologies: Make sure that ARIA attributes work as expected.

ARIA in dynamic elements

Dynamic elements such as dropdown menus or tabs can greatly benefit from ARIA.

Example of accessible tabs:

html

Limitations of ARIA

Although ARIA is powerful, it has limitations:

• It does not modify the native behavior of the element.
• It requires careful handling to avoid confusion.
• It is not supported by old browsers or devices.

Conclusion

ARIA is a powerful tool that can significantly improve the accessibility of dynamic applications. However, it must be used carefully and in combination with native HTML tags. In the next chapter, we will explore tools and techniques to evaluate the accessibility of your projects. Join us!