Have you ever considered how crucial it is to design websites that are user-friendly for all users, including those who might require a little additional assistance? Well, one of the most important aspects of building an accessible website is testing headers and skip links.
Testing skip links and headers is essentially ensuring that users can navigate a website with ease, particularly if they use screen readers or other assistive technology because they have difficulty seeing or using a mouse.
Examining skip links manually
Manual testing of skip links entails experimenting with them across various web browsers, gadgets, and assistive technology.
When manually testing skip links, you should test them in several browsers, adjust the window size to check how the skip links function on various screens, navigate about with the tab key, and hear the skip links read aloud by screen readers.
You may inspect the code and the appearance of the skip links and headers with the use of tools like the Web Developer Toolbar and browser developer tools.
Using instruments for automated testing
Cool tools like WAVE, axe, and Siteimprove can verify whether your skip links and headers adhere to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) if you would rather use automated testing.
These tools are quite effective in identifying issues such as incorrect heading heights, absent labels, or difficult-to-read colors in skip links and headings.
They provide you with thorough reports and pointers on how to improve the accessibility of your website so that it is simpler for users to utilize.
Prioritizing users in testing
A more user-friendly technique would be to test skip links on actual people, particularly those who might require further assistance because of disability.
By having real users try out your website, you can see how easy it is for them to move around and understand the content using skip links and headings. This ensures that your website functions properly across a range of devices and provides valuable input to enhance accessibility and inclusion.
Summarized
It is crucial to test headlines and skip links while creating a website so that it is user-friendly for all users.
Whether you employ automatic tools for rules checks, conduct manual testing across several browsers, or include actual users—including those with disabilities—you are improving accessibility on the web for all.
