In modern business, it is almost unthinkable not to utilize the Web.
Even if you do not operate a website such as an online shop, you must have an official website such as your company’s homepage in order to disseminate corporate and business information.
What if this website is extremely difficult for visitors to use? Not only will they leave you quickly, but your attitude toward business may even be questioned. Also, in order to get more people to see it, you need to make sure that the necessary information is easy for everyone to see.
This time, we will explain about web accessibility that you should be aware of when creating a website.
What is web accessibility?
Web accessibility is a concept related to “ease of access to the Web” proposed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), a standards organization established to promote the standardization of various Web technologies. . Web accessibility originally meant “the ability of people with disabilities to use the Web,” but today it has become “the ability of all people who use the Web, not just the elderly or people with disabilities, to access the information and services on the Web.” It is interpreted as “availability of functions”.
Accessibility refers not only to the design and visibility of web pages, but also to the ease with which they can be accessed from the increasingly diverse devices used to access the Internet (computers, smartphones, tablets, game consoles, etc.). Masu.
In Japan, guidelines for web accessibility have been established by JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards), and in 2004, “JIS It was enacted.
In addition, in 2016, following the enforcement of the “Act on Promotion of Elimination of Discrimination on the Basis of Disabilities” (Act on Eliminating Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities), it was revised to “JIS X 8341-3:2016″. This is the same content as the world standard W3C’s “WCAG 2.0” and the international standard “ISO/IEC 40500:2012.” Complying with this standard ensures web accessibility even in different countries, regions, and languages. Now you can.
How to improve web accessibility
So, specifically, what should we keep in mind when creating a website to improve web accessibility and build a website that is easy for anyone to view? There are various definitions in “JIS The following are examples of measures to improve web accessibility.
- Visual representation of text and imaged characters requires a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1. In addition, a contrast ratio of 3:1 is required for large text and large imaged text. *Check with a contrast checker using the background and text color codes.
- If it is 16px or less, make it bold and make the contrast with the background clear.
- Add a function to enlarge (reduce) the font size to improve visibility. – When setting buttons, consider use on smartphones and secure an area of approximately 59px x 59px.
- Include a written explanation
- Give each page an appropriate title according to its content
- Display a site map and search window on each page as a means of navigating to other pages
- Unify the design of page layouts, links, buttons, etc. so that they are easy to understand and operate.
The above are just a few examples of ways to improve web accessibility, but by taking measures like these, you can create an environment where your website is easy to use for everyone.
Benefits of improving web accessibility
By implementing the measures described above to improve web accessibility, there are the following benefits:
summary
◆Web accessibility means that information, services, and functions on the web can be used by all people who use the web, not just the elderly and people with disabilities.
◆Web accessibility guidelines have been established by JIS, and if they are complied with, accessibility can be ensured even in different countries, regions, and languages.
◆By enriching the content and optimizing the site structure, it becomes easier for search engines (crawlers) to index, and SEO effects can be expected.
◆Improving web accessibility will make it easier for more people to see your website and allow you to disseminate information more efficiently. This consideration also leads to being evaluated as an excellent company.