Building user interfaces with Next.js is not just about aesthetics and functionality; it's also about ensuring everyone, regardless of their abilities, can access and interact with your application. Accessibility (often abbreviated as a11y) is a critical aspect of modern web development. It's not an afterthought; it should be woven into the fabric of your design and development process. In this section, we'll explore key accessibility considerations and how they relate to your Next.js projects.
Semantic HTML is the bedrock of accessibility. Using appropriate HTML5 elements for their intended purpose provides inherent meaning to browsers and assistive technologies like screen readers. This helps users understand the structure and purpose of different parts of your page.
<nav>
<ul>
<li><a href="/">Home</a></li>
<li><a href="/about">About</a></li>
<li><a href="/contact">Contact</a></li>
</ul>
</nav>
<main>
<h1>Welcome to our site</h1>
<p>This is the main content of the page.</p>
</main>
<footer>
<p>© 2023 My Awesome App</p>
</footer>Images convey information, but they need an accessible alternative for users who cannot see them. The alt attribute on <img> tags is crucial. It provides a text description of the image content that screen readers can announce. For decorative images, an empty alt attribute (alt="") is appropriate to signal to assistive technologies that the image can be ignored.
<img src="/images/logo.png" alt="Company Logo" />
<img src="/images/decorative-pattern.svg" alt="" />Form elements are central to user interaction. Every form input needs a clearly associated label. This is typically achieved using the <label> element with its for attribute matching the id of the input. This association allows screen readers to announce the label when the user focuses on the input field, making it clear what information is expected.
<form>
<label htmlFor="name">Full Name:</label>
<input type="text" id="name" name="name" />
<label htmlFor="email">Email:</label>
<input type="email" id="email" name="email" />
</form>