Accessibility is a big priority for the ecommerce developers in Milford, DE, with LaunchDM. Ensuring a website is accessible to all users, including those with disabilities, is a legal, moral, and business imperative. Our ecommerce developers play a pivotal role in ensuring that websites are usable by people with a wide range of abilities and disabilities. This involves adhering to established guidelines, utilizing specialized tools, and incorporating best practices throughout development. Here’s a closer look at how the best developers ensure website accessibility.
Responsive Design
Responsive design ensures that an ecommerce site is usable on various devices, including desktops, tablets, and smartphones. Developers create flexible layouts and scalable fonts and images to ensure the site adapts to different screen sizes. This is crucial for users needing to zoom in on content or use screen readers on their mobile devices.
- Flexible layouts: Fluid grids and flexible images ensure the website adapts to different screen sizes. CSS media queries allow developers to apply different styles based on device characteristics.
- Scalable text: Implementing scalable fonts allows users to adjust text size according to their needs without breaking the layout. Developers avoid using fixed units like pixels for font sizes, opting for relative units like ems or percentages.
Testing and Validation
Testing is a critical step in ensuring accessibility. Developers use automated tools to scan for common accessibility issues and manual testing to evaluate the user experience. This includes navigating the site with a keyboard, using screen readers, and simulating different disabilities to identify barriers. User feedback from people with disabilities is invaluable in this process, providing real-world insights into how the site performs.
Implementing Accessible Design
Accessible design is the foundation of an inclusive ecommerce site. Developers start by choosing a color scheme that offers high contrast, making text and images easier for users with visual impairments to see. They ensure the website’s logical and intuitive layout, with a clear hierarchy and easy navigation. This includes using descriptive headings, labels, and alt text for images so that screen readers can accurately convey information to users with visual impairments.
- Color contrast and text: Choosing a color palette with sufficient contrast between background and text ensures low-vision users can read your content. Tools like the Color Contrast Analyzer can help developers select appropriate color combinations.
- Straightforward navigation: A well-structured navigation system allows users to find information quickly. Developers use consistent navigation menus and clearly labeled links to guide users through the site.
- Alt text for images: Alternative text descriptions are crucial for screen reader users. Developers must provide concise and descriptive alt text that conveys the purpose and content of images.
Keyboard Navigation and Focus Management
Many users with disabilities rely on keyboard navigation rather than a mouse. Ecommerce developers ensure all interactive elements, such as links, buttons, and forms, are accessible via keyboard shortcuts. This involves proper focus management, ensuring users can easily tab through elements logically without getting trapped in non-interactive areas. Focus indicators, like visible outlines, are also essential to show users where they are on the page.
Find out more about LaunchDM’s commitment to accessibility by contacting us online or calling our ecommerce developers in Milford, DE, at 610-898-1330.
