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Semantic HTML

Using the HTML element that means what the content is, such as a button for a button, so browsers and assistive technology understand it.

Semantic HTML means choosing elements for their meaning: a heading element for a heading, a list for a list, a button for something that does an action, a link for something that goes somewhere, and a table for data. The browser turns that meaning into the accessibility tree, so a screen reader can jump between headings, announce a button as a button, and read a table by row and column.

The opposite is a page built from generic div and span elements styled to look right. It looks the same and works for a mouse, but it tells assistive technology nothing. Semantic HTML costs nothing extra and removes most of the need for ARIA.

ARIA
A set of HTML attributes that tell assistive technology what a custom control is, what it is called, and what state it is in.
Heading structure
Headings that outline the page in order, one main heading and then levels that nest without skipping.
Landmark
A labeled region of a page, such as the main content or the navigation, that assistive technology can jump to.
Accessibility tree
The structure a browser builds from a page that screen readers and AI agents read to understand it.

Get help with every step.

We can work with organizations of every size and industry, from a startup serving its first customers to a bank. We find where you stand, help your team fix what matters, and keep checking as your product changes. That work is evidence of your effort, not a legal guarantee.

Talk to us about a first stepSee our services