Usability and accessibility: Why Websites Need to Be Usable for Everyone
Websites aren’t just about looking flashy or modern; they also need to be usable to users. Usability and accessibility are two of the elements that website owners should be looking towards when designing their website. By doing this, anybody that comes across their website will easily be able to navigate, understand, and interact with all of the features the website has to offer, and get your message across in the process. Websites that have thoughtfully put in effort towards their accessibility and their usability are more likely to reach wider audiences, have better reviews, and reach the expectations that a user would have when using their website.
What Is Usability?
Usability in a website is how easy it is to get to where you need to be, with as few obstacles as possible. This means that anyone that is using the website can easily complete tasks and find what information they need while being able to work through the website without having any confusion. First-time users shouldn’t need instructions on how to use the basic functions on your website, which might be the menus, forms, or the search bars. Keeping a familiar layout that users will find normal will allow users to flow through your website with ease and have no confusion. Usability directly affects engagement and retention. If visitors struggle to find information, they will likely leave and look elsewhere.
What is Accessibility?
Focusing on accessibility means that a website is ensuring that anybody coming across the website, whether they have a disability or not, can use and interact with the website freely. Individuals that may find themselves with visual, motor, or cognitive disabilities will be able to use the website. Some users may find themselves needing an on-screen reader, magnifiers, or voice navigation. A website that has features that allow people with these impairments to understand the content on the website will create more flow than a website that may lack these features. Along with this, people that may have learning disabilities, attention disorders, and/or memory challenges may find that websites that use a broader language, familiar themes you’d find in other websites, and clear directions on how to navigate the website. Websites that have thought about their accessibility will have a better chance of keeping a wider audience in flow with their website.
How Do They Pair?
Usability and accessibility heavily influence the way each other works. Accessibility will ensure that the website is usable, while usability keeps the website comfortable for the users. When looking at an example where the two would differ, a website that would include keyboard navigation may allow accessible features for users; if menus aren’t working, the website isn’t usable. Looking towards a website that looks flashy and modern and may be usable, if this website doesn’t have any alt text, then it is not accessible. Unthought-out websites will lead users to frustration, but having a website will not allow any flow through the website. When accessibility is prioritized, usability naturally improves because the design becomes clearer, more structured, and easier to navigate.
How To Improve Accessibility and Usability
1. Use Alt Text
Alt text in images will allow screen readers to describe the image to visually impaired users. Make sure that the alt text is brief but also descriptive enough to understand what the image is.
2. Contrast
Color contrast is a big factor when thinking about accessibility; if the color scheme is too vibrant for each other, the website will be hard to look at and follow. Text should also stand out from the background to improve readability.
3. Descriptive Links and Buttons
Having a descriptive CTA will allow users to understand where each link will take them; avoid vague phrases.
Ending Thoughts
Usability and accessibility go hand in hand with each other and are essential parts of web design today. With these two being focus points for website owners, they can allow users to easily use their website, feel inclusive, and also ensure that the site is effective for anyone that is using the website. Site owners that ensure they are using alt text, a good contrast scheme, and descriptive links will be able to serve any flow of users coming through their site.
Sources
https://www.w3.org/WAI/fundamentals/accessibility-usability-inclusion
WCAG 101: Understanding the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines