Accessibility in React and Angular: How to Build Apps That Everyone Can Use
“It looked perfect… until I tried it with a screen reader.”
That was my wake-up call.
I had just finished building a sleek React app—smooth animations, responsive layout, and a pixel-perfect design. I showed it to friends, they loved it. Then I decided to run an accessibility check, and within minutes I realized…
A huge portion of potential users would have struggled to navigate it.
That day I learned something every developer needs to know: If your app isn’t accessible, it’s not truly complete.
Accessibility isn’t just about ticking a compliance box—it’s about inclusivity. It’s about ensuring your application can be used by people with visual impairments, motor disabilities, hearing loss, or cognitive challenges. And beyond the human aspect, accessibility also boosts SEO, user experience, and product reach.
Whether you’re building with React or Angular, these frameworks give you the flexibility to build accessible apps—you just have to implement the right strategies.
🌍 Why Accessibility Matters More Than Ever
According to the World Health Organization, over 1 billion people worldwide live with some form of disability. That’s not a niche audience—that’s a huge portion of your potential users.
When we talk about accessibility in apps, we’re not just thinking about screen readers or color contrast—we’re thinking about removing any barrier that prevents someone from using your app effectively.
And here’s the bonus:
Accessible apps tend to have better structured code.
Search engines love semantic HTML, which improves SEO rankings.
Good accessibility practices improve the experience for all users, not just those with disabilities.
🛠 5 Key Accessibility Tips for React and Angular Developers
1️⃣ Use Semantic HTML
React and Angular allow you to build complex components, but don’t forget the basics—HTML structure matters.
Screen readers depend on this structure to help users navigate.
💡 Pro Tip: Even when building custom components, try to preserve semantic meaning. For example, a button should still use the
2️⃣ Add ARIA Roles and Attributes
ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) attributes enhance the accessibility of elements, especially when you’re creating custom UI components.
Use role="alert", role="dialog", or aria-live to convey important information.
Make sure interactive elements have proper aria-label or aria-labelledby attributes.
💡 Pro Tip: Avoid overusing ARIA—start with semantic HTML and add ARIA only where necessary.
3️⃣ Ensure Keyboard Navigation Works
Not everyone uses a mouse. Some rely solely on the keyboard to navigate.
Make sure users can tab through all interactive elements in a logical order.
Provide visible focus indicators so users know where they are on the page.
💡 Test it yourself: Put your mouse aside and navigate your app using only the Tab, Shift + Tab, Enter, and arrow keys.
4️⃣ Maintain Good Color Contrast and Readable Text
Poor contrast can make your text unreadable for users with low vision or color blindness.
Follow WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) contrast ratios: at least 4.5:1 for normal text.
Avoid using color as the only way to convey information.
💡 Pro Tip: Use tools like Contrast Checker or built-in DevTools to verify color accessibility.
5️⃣ Label Forms and Provide Clear Error Messages
Forms can be a nightmare for accessibility if not done right.
Always connect labels to inputs using the for attribute in HTML or htmlFor in React.
Provide descriptive error messages instead of vague “Invalid input” notices.
💡 Pro Tip: In Angular, use aria-describedby to link error messages to their corresponding input fields.
🔍 Testing Your Accessibility
Even if you follow all the tips above, you still need to test. Luckily, there are great tools for that:
axe DevTools: Browser extension for accessibility audits.
Lighthouse: Built into Chrome DevTools—run an accessibility audit in seconds.
React Testing Library: Check accessibility as part of your automated tests.
📈 The Benefits Go Beyond Inclusivity
When you make accessibility part of your development process:
User satisfaction increases—everyone benefits from better design and structure.
Bounce rates drop—users find what they need faster.
SEO improves—search engines can parse and index your content better.
Your brand reputation grows—people remember apps that consider everyone.
🚀 Getting Started Today
You don’t need to overhaul your entire codebase to be more accessible. Start with one small step:
Add semantic HTML to one page.
Fix color contrast on a key section.
Test keyboard navigation in a single component.
Accessibility isn’t a one-time fix—it’s a habit. The earlier you integrate it into your workflow, the better your apps will be for everyone.
💬 Over to You
What’s the one accessibility feature you think developers overlook most? Drop your thoughts in the comments—I’d love to see your experiences and tips.
Final Thought: In React or Angular, you have all the tools to build something beautiful and functional. But the real measure of your app’s success is whether everyone can use it. Build for inclusivity, and you’re building for the future.