--- title: Guide to coding for web accessibility standards url: "https://b13.com/knowledge/guide-to-coding-for-web-accessibility-standards" description: Use our guide to boost inclusivity and meet accessibility standards, creating consistently enjoyable user experiences. image: "https://b13.com/fileadmin/_processed_/5/c/csm_CodeAccessibility_Sharing_1753175591.png" date: 2025-03-10 modified: 2026-08-19 lastUpdated: 2026-08-19 --- # Guide to coding for web accessibility standards [ Accessibility ](https://b13.com/knowledge/accessibility) [ SEO ](https://b13.com/knowledge/seo) Guide to coding for web accessibility standards ================================================= ![](https://b13.com/fileadmin/_processed_/a/d/csm_david_5ce18d41e2.jpg)David Steeb 07 March 2025 [ RSS Feed ](https://b13.com/rss.xml) Modern web standards are built on principles of inclusivity and accessibility—and for good reason. Building these principles into our web properties creates opportunity for everyone to engage with organizations, access services, participate in commerce, and contribute to conversations. And when everyone can participate, we foster equity to break down barriers and bridge disparities. Here at b13, we believe every website should invite every person to participate. By incorporating best practices and following established guidelines, websites can ensure every user—regardless of ability—can fully experience the content. > Everyone who comes to a website should be included. Daniel Gorges, b13 Frontend developer Building websites on a foundation of accessibility [delivers practical benefits](https://b13.com/knowledge/a-guide-to-accessibility-considerations-in-ux-design). Search algorithms reward accessible practices, helping you reach a broader audience, attract more potential customers, and maximize SEO efforts. It also ensures compliance with regulations, protecting you from costly legal issues. Plus, accessible design enhances the overall user experience (UX), benefiting everyone who visits your site. Writing code is fundamentally about crafting a strong foundation. When that groundwork incorporates inclusivity as well as scalability, both you and your users reap the benefits. Compliance standards are a great place to start, and this guide will help you identify actionable practices for writing accessible, user-friendly code. A set standard for accessibility ---------------------------------- The current global standard is the [Web Content Accessibility Guidelines](https://www.w3.org/WAI/standards-guidelines/wcag/) (WCAG), which focuses on meeting the needs of users with disabilities; its four principles ask that web content be perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust. In simpler terms, all four principles ask that you [consider a user’s experience and whether they can interact with your content without the benefit of your specialized knowledge.](https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG22/Understanding/intro#understanding-the-four-principles-of-accessibility) - **Perceivable** means all users can perceive the content on your site, whether through sight, sound, touch, or other means. - **Operable** content can be navigated through multiple input methods, allowing users to interact without relying on a single sense or input device. - **Understandable** content means that both the information and the user interface are clear and predictable; they’re crafted to the user’s level of knowledge and understanding. - **Robust** content is adaptable and continues to be compatible with assistive technologies and user agents as technology advances. > We have to give people alternatives—or, let’s say, possibilities—to gather information. Daniel Gorges, b13 Frontend developer Put simply, accessibility is the acknowledgment that while not everyone has the same capacity or skillset to access digital content, they all deserve the same kinds of access. Specific strategies for accessible experiences ------------------------------------------------ ### Semantic HTML One of the most important tools at our disposal is semantic labeling in HTML. Most readers[ scan pages in predictable patterns](https://uxmag.com/articles/the-f-pattern-understanding-how-users-scan-content), so we typically write content to prioritize the elements they’re most likely to notice first. For readers who can’t rely on visual scanning, semantic HTML replicates that prioritization, ensuring content remains accessible and intuitive. In language studies, *semantics* describes the study of meaning and how we can use reference points, like words, to convey it to one another. For coding, *semantics* functions the same way: in this case, the meaning we’re conveying to screen readers and other adaptive technologies is information priority—[which should be a foundational component of your coding plan](https://b13.com/solutions/user-experience/ux-discovery-strategy). Consider for a moment how a title is visually distinct from a paragraph—even in this section you’re reading right now, there’s a hierarchy of importance conveyed by the title, subtitle, paragraph, and their visual appearance on the page. By coding each of those sections with an HTML tag (
,